0 a container in which water is stored, especially one connected to a toilet or in the roof of a house --
1 a large container for storing water, esp. one kept on the roof of a large building to catch rain --
Another instance: they started to build the foundations and a month later we find that the clay for waterproofing the cisterns had arrived on site and was paid for.
It is noted that one common response to unreliable electricity and water supply is for firms to invest in a generator or a well or cistern.
This is an essential feature to take into account, as the bringing inside of the cistern has a very strong impact on the urban organisation.
Moreover, the area here features a considerable number of cisterns and wells used for the irrigation of gardens.
In the late nineteenth century, biofouling in stagnant drinking water, such as that found in reservoirs, cisterns and dead-ends, was increasingly recognized and studied.
If the cistern was constantly full, the amount was of 138 litres of water per day: a large capacity for that time.
In addition, "chultuns" (cisterns) lined with plaster in order to prevent seepage were used to store rain water for human consumption.
There were not only private, but also public cisterns, located in the middle of campi.
