ᐅ Cistern! I don’t want one, but I am being forced to have it – experiences

Hello everyone,

According to our development plan, installing a cistern is mandatory. From an economic perspective, it doesn’t seem worthwhile; if I had the choice, I would skip it.

I have received the following all-inclusive offers (excavation, pump, etc., everything included):
1. 5200-liter (1375-gallon) cistern, €7,000
2. 2600-liter (686-gallon) cistern, €6,000

There is also the option of installing only the cistern without a usage system to meet the development plan’s requirements. For both offers, I would save about €1,000 on the pump and related equipment. However, this would mean burying something in the ground for €6,000–7,000 without any actual benefit, which is hard for me to accept.

Either way, I would use the cistern only for garden irrigation, with a maximum watering area of 220m² (2370 ft²). A garden water meter will definitely be installed; the fees are about €2 per cubic meter.

For me, only the economic aspect matters. Which option is the most cost-effective? I’m leaning toward the 2600-liter (686-gallon) cistern. Or would it be better to just bury the cistern without any usage?

Thank you in advance.

Check out Guckstdu https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/lohnt-sich-eine-regenwasser-zisterne-zur-gartenbewaesserung.43935/ – you will find a discussion on your topic there.

---

https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

Take the 5 cubic meters and save yourself the garden water meter. Installing a cistern without connecting it is, in my opinion, highly impractical.

We paid approximately 5,000 for a concrete cistern with a capacity of around 5,000 liters (1,320 gallons). This estimate includes a proportional share of the excavation work and the piping for the household water system included in the package. We had the toilet flushing system mandatorily connected, and laundry machine connections of your choice (2 valves). Only with this setup do you really have a chance for it to be commercially viable (although that wasn’t our main concern).

I can’t imagine that a plastic cistern with about 3,000 liters (790 gallons) capacity, which is supposed to be cheaper than the concrete version, wouldn’t be SIGNIFICANTLY less expensive. Personally, I find the prices to be excessive :-(

i_b_n_a_n schrieb:

We paid about 5,000 for a concrete water cistern with a capacity of roughly 5,000 liters (1,320 gallons). This estimate included a proportional share of ground excavation and piping for the house water system included in the package. We had to connect the toilet flush as mandatory, and a washing machine with two valves, depending on choice. Only in this way, in my opinion, does it have any chance of being commercially viable (although that wasn’t our main concern).
I can’t imagine that a plastic cistern with about 3,000 liters (790 gallons) capacity, which is supposedly cheaper than the concrete version, isn’t significantly less expensive. Personally, I find the prices exaggerated :-(

May I ask which year that was, and was it in southern Germany?

11ant schrieb:

Check out https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/lohnt-sich-eine-regenwasser-zisterne-zur-gartenbewaesserung.43935/ – you’ll find a discussion on your topic there.

I’m aware that from an economic point of view it’s not worth it. That’s why it hurts to have to spend so much money.