[MassHistPres] Using 19th-century cistern as a source of water for gardening

[Ermmwwt at aol.com]

Can anyone suggest a consultant in evaluating how an old cistern may be  
cleaned out and turned into a source for water gardening?  Our local  drainage 
company suggested they could find a kid to get down into the cistern to  
clean it out.  I am hoping by "kid" they meant someone who is of working  age 
but small for his age.  Still the horror of standing in 4 feet of water  
filled with roots and other debris (which has been pretty stagnant for recorded 
 memory) prevents me from agreeing to this suggestion as the first choice.  
 In addition to cleaning we need to find an appropriate pumping mechanism. 
 
Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Earl Taylor
Dorchester Historical Society
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