Wells, Sump Pumps and Septic Sewage Systems - Is it safe to go down inside a 14 ft deep cistern

I live in an old house that has two 14 ft deep cisterns (aprox 6 feet diameter). I've been letting rain water into one of them for several years but it never fills more than 3 feet, so I'd guess there is a crack in the wall. I need to go down into the cistern make repairs but I'm worried there might not be breathable air at the bottom.

The cistern(s) are in the ground, their tops at ground level, their bottoms probably lower than the basement floor. They are both adjacent to one side of the house.

Is this fear justified? Can someone comment on this and suggest solutions.

Thanks,

John

Your fear is justified. It is possible the air is safe in there. It is likely that it isn't.

You need to make sure you have enough oxygen and you need to make sure you can get out if something goes wrong.

Call some tool rental companies and/or look for somewhere local that rents safety equipment. You will want a confined space entry retrieval system and ventilation system. You should be able to easily get a ventilator that will give you 3 air changes per minute in the cistern. You want a tripod that has a winch and you will want a harness that you wear to connect to the winch line. You need someone to watch you and man the retrieval system to pull you out if something goes wrong.

You also need to be darn sure the whole thing isn't going to collapse in on you. It would be hard to come back from that.

Without being trained, or having the proper breathing apparatus, and safety equipment.

Contact your local well companies, and see if they are equipped or know of someone that is.

DO NOT GO DOWN IN IT!!! YOU COULD DIE.



Travis

We had 2 guys croak going into voids on a ship...it was supposed to be safe. 1st went in..2nd went in to help the first...both widows collected the insurance.

There are any number of ways you can ventilate the space..but I'd get a Pro out there to supervise. At least your family would have someone to sue if it goes bad.

I agree............Not a diy job.

Now, if you were a employeer, this would be a permit required confined space. Lots of rules to prevent death and/or injury.

Fatdaddy, what kind of sealer do you use. Also, did you try lowering a candle (or a canary) down into the cistern to see if there was enough oxygen to sustain it?

That was 30 years ago, a older fellow at the hardware shop told me. They were pretty common were I was living at then