Finding Water - Dowsing

[MaryN]

I've been continuing the hunt to find a supply of fresh water at this property, and q

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Sorry, finger trouble........and quite by chance I discovered how this was achieved. I had the opportunity to chat to a former owner a few weeks ago, and asked him what they did for fresh water. He told me that there is a very large cistern under the property - actually under an inside room - and that so far as he was aware it is still there. I barely restrained a hop and skip, and he told me that water was collected from the roof and pumped up into the kitchen area. The cistern is apparently as deep as a tall man and provided all the water for the house. As he told me things fell into place; I had been puzzled by what appeared to be a closed-off drain, and I now realise that it the input into the cistern. Well, joy and alleluia! Thinking carefully, this would be a very good way to provide fresh water. Here on the Fens the water table is very high and this could be a cause of pollution. It would be o.k. for livestock, but not, perhaps, humans.

The only problem I now have is to try and get a look at this cistern. I have tried jumping up and down above where it is supposed to be, and it does sound a bit boomy. I have to be a bit careful in case OH thinks I have gone completely insane, but this has possibilities.

Has anyone else heard of this method of water collection? The property is quite old so I'm guessing the cistern is pre-mains water. Anyway, I'm excited!