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Local Cistern or Donation to the Community Cistern Fund

If your building site is located in a remote area, or in an area with poor access to a water supply for firefighting, the Fire District may require you to install a local cistern. Per Boulder County the minimum size is 1800 gallons. In the situation described above it would be wise to install a larger cistern when possible.

In other cases it is permissible to either install a local cistern or contribute to the Fire Department's Community Cistern Fund. Each option has its own pros and cons. If you choose to install a cistern it cannot be used for livestock, agricultural, domestic storage or other uses.

Some thoughts to consider:

1) Do you have physical room to place the cistern approximately 50-75 feet from your house and garage? Too close and the Fire Department cannot use it if the house is on fire, and too far and our initial attack lines will not reach the house. Our pre-connected hose lines are 200' and need to reach the back of the house. Cistern placement is vital to a successful initial fire attack.

2) Is there adequate space for an all weather turnaround or pullout adjacent to the cistern?

3) The cost involved with blasting will likely offset any financial advantage to placing a local cistern. Generally we are told that the cost to install an 1,800 gallon cistern is equal to the $2,500 donation to the community cistern fund.

4) Having a local cistern will permit a homeowner to defend their home in the event of a wildfire. This would also require some knowledge, hose, nozzle and a pump that will work when the electricity in the area goes out. Although we believe there is great risk with not evacuating during a wildland fire, we will not force you to leave. If you chose to stay and defend you home, recent fires show that well intentioned homeowners actually hampered firefighters access to their and others homes. Worse yet they created many additional "emergencies" when homeowners requested to be rescued as the fire rapidly approached  We will be unable to rescue you once the fire front reaches the area. Staying to protect your home is done so at grave risk.  

5) The Fire District will prioritize which locations will receive community cisterns. It is likely that the money you contribute towards the cistern fund will not result in a community cistern directly in the area you are building. Our most recent community cisterns installed at 5-points and the East end of Ridge Rd. each cost ~$45,000 to install.

http://www.bouldercounty.org/lu/wildfire/bcffa_standards.htm for more info.

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Last modified: 05/11/10