Cistern Inspections
Inspections of rural water cisterns and hauled-water systems: tank condition, lids and overflow, pump and pressure system, treatment equipment, and water quality.
Many rural homes in Southern Ontario store their drinking water in a cistern instead of drawing it from a well, especially where groundwater is scarce, sulphurous, or too hard to treat economically. A cistern inspection tells a buyer or owner whether the tank is sound, whether the water is protected from contamination, and whether the pump, pressure tank, and treatment equipment can keep up with the household. We inspect cisterns on their own or as part of a home, septic, and well visit.
Inspected by John Hansen, Registered Home Inspector and Past President of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors, WETT certified, BCIN qualified for septic systems. Inspecting since 2011.
Cistern Inspections by city
What is the cistern inspections process?
- Locate and access: find the cistern (in-ground concrete, basement tank, or buried poly), confirm lid access, and record size and construction.
- Tank and lid: check for cracks, staining, roots, standing water around the lid, and whether the lid is sealed, locked, and above grade.
- Inlet, overflow, and vent: confirm the fill pipe is capped, the overflow is screened and drains away, and vents keep insects and rodents out.
- Pump and pressure system: run the pump, check pressure tank setting and cycling, and look for leaks, corrosion, or an undersized pump.
- Treatment and water quality: inspect filters, softener, UV, or chlorination, and sample for pH, hardness, iron, and nitrate; a bottle for a free Health Unit bacteria test is available.
- Report: a written report with photos, what is working, what needs attention, and how to maintain the system.
Where cisterns are common
Cisterns are standard in parts of Flamborough, Glanbrook, and Binbrook in Hamilton, in rural Brant and Haldimand, in north Burlington, and in pockets of Niagara and Wellington County where the bedrock aquifer gives poor-quality or low-yield water. Water is trucked in by a licensed hauler, or in some older systems collected from the roof.
Buyers coming from a city on municipal water are often surprised by a cistern. The inspection is also an education: how much water the tank holds, how long a fill lasts, what a fill costs, and how to keep the stored water clean.
What goes wrong with cisterns
The usual problems are a cracked or settling concrete tank that leaks or lets groundwater in, a lid that sits at grade and lets surface water run in, an unscreened overflow that invites insects and rodents, and sediment or biofilm from a tank that has never been cleaned. Any of those can turn a clean truckload of water into water that fails a bacteria test.
On the mechanical side, we see pumps that cannot hold pressure, waterlogged pressure tanks that short-cycle the pump, and UV or chlorination systems that have been switched off because nobody replaced the lamp or refilled the chlorine. Each of these is noted in the report with a plain-language recommendation.
Cistern or well: which inspection do I need?
If the property has a drilled or dug well that feeds the house, book a well inspection. If a cistern is the only water storage, or the well is so poor that the owner has a cistern filled by truck, book a cistern inspection. Many rural properties have both, and we can inspect both on the same visit along with the septic system.
FAQs
What is a cistern inspection?
A cistern inspection evaluates the water storage tank, its lid, inlet, overflow and vents, the pump and pressure system, any filtration or UV treatment, and the water itself. The goal is to confirm the stored water is protected from contamination and the system can supply the household reliably.
How long does a cistern inspection take?
About 1 hour on its own, or less when combined with a home, septic, or well inspection at the same property.
Can you test cistern water for bacteria?
Yes. We sample on-site for pH, hardness, iron, and nitrate, and we can supply a sample bottle for the free Public Health Ontario bacteria test (E. coli and total coliform) that lenders and insurers often ask for before closing.
How often should a cistern be cleaned?
Most cisterns should be drained, cleaned, and disinfected every few years, or sooner if sediment, odour, or a failed bacteria test shows up. We note the condition of the tank interior where the lid allows and recommend a cleaning schedule in the report.
Is a cistern a problem when buying a rural home?
Not by itself. A well-built, well-maintained cistern is a reliable water supply. The inspection tells you whether this one is in good shape, what hauled water will cost you, and what upkeep to budget for.
Have a question about inspection services?
Write to us, call us, or text at your convenience. Serving Southern Ontario, Canada.
Location
Serving Southern Ontario, Canada