Should I keep our cistern?

Question

While tearing out old cement around our 150 year old house we found a cistern. It was closed off with a HUGE slab of concrete and has probably been covered for 60 years or so. I have not yet been able to remove or destroy the masive block of cement cement covering it so i do not know the real condition of the cistern but it looks (using the digital Camera) like it's pretty well kept.

My question is this: Is there any use now-a-day to keep this cistern or is it safer just to fill it in? If there is no practical use I will fill it in but I am still coming across websites on how to build them so maybe there is something practical, if not historical to keep it.

Thanks,

Stephen

Answer 1

Seems like it would be great for storing water for the garden in case of drought.  I have a rain barrel and wish I had a 100 of them.  I don't know what safety or maintenance issues you might have.

Answer 2

If you live anywhere in a wildfire danger zone, you could fill build your own fire protection system - fill it with water, add a gasoline powered pump, get an appropriate sized fire hose and you're ready to defend your house (or die trying!).

I have a friend who is a former firefighter and that's what he's done with his property in California.