Different Forms of Water Storage

Tanks

• Small tanks are the most basic way of storing drinking water around your home. The experts at the Alabama Cooperative Extension recommend using plastic containers that are clean and have never contained chemicals or non-food safe liquids. Plastic barrels that were used to store food products are often clean enough to store water in after a simple rinse. Plastic tanks of all sizes and shapes can also be purchased from manufacturers who design them specifically for water storage. These tanks often have special spigots or hose systems installed to make pumping water in or out of the tank easier.

Cisterns

• Cisterns are large, permanent storage tanks for water collected from ground run-off or rainwater that falls onto the roof of a building. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, most cisterns are located underground, but some smaller versions may be built above ground. Cisterns are built from a variety of strong materials, including brick, metal and cement reinforced with mesh or rebar. Homeowners who grow their own food or have expensive landscaping that requires large amounts of water can install a cistern to capture the rainwater or groundwater that falls all year long, but most cisterns are not capable of safely storing potable water for drinking.

Aquifers

• An aquifer is a layer of underground rock that contains water that can be pumped to the surface says the Kansas Geological Survey. Although most aquifers are naturally occurring sources of water, there are some methods available for storing excess water in an aquifer. Water is often naturally added during rainfall, but pumping collected rainwater into the ground directly above the aquifer may cause it to store this water for later use according to Oasis Design. Aquifers are not often utilized by homeowners as a water storage method because it takes a full geological survey of the area to best use an underground aquifer.

Ponds

• Ponds that are properly designed naturally refill themselves during each rainfall, and can be populated with plants and wildlife that work to improve the quality of the water stored within. The California Agricultural Water Stewardship Initiative says that ponds refill the groundwater levels around them and help settle or evaporate unwanted contaminants. While ponds aren't a good choice for storing drinking water, even a small pond can be used to support a lawn or garden during a drought. With the right filtration system, it's possible to use water stored in ponds to shower, flush toilets or clean dishes as well.