Cistern Assessment

There is a (hand waving) 3 ft x 3 ft x 8 in concrete slab with a gangly piece of metal sticking out of it that I suspect is a cistern cap. The questions that come to mind are:

1. How do I confirm it's actually a cistern? It's bound to be incredibly heavy.
2. If it is a cistern, is there anything I need to do to make sure it's safe to use, and, at that, how do you use it? (guess: need a pump)
3. Is it possible that it wasn't meant to be a cistern, just somewhere for flood water to soak into and then disperse into the ground slowly? The slab is located near a street-fed drainage tube that floods when we get heavy rain.

If this isn't enough information, let me know and I'll do my best to provide details!

Brian

Hi Brian,

As you have figured out, there are a number of things  it could be.

Have you talked with your neighbors?  ....or a realtor with lots of gray hair ......or the local cafe where the farmers hang out ( this time of year, that is probably your worse bet).

Hey John,

I'll try one of my neighbors, they've been there for ages and might have some input.

Given the lack of a pump and the permanence (in that I wouldn't want to move it) I suspect that it might be a dry well. It's also next to a flood plain and storm water pipe. Can't confirm at present, but I'll update if I find something.

Thanks!

If that were on my property it would be a bored well cap. they are very common around here. you get a circular concrete cap with a pipe sticking out of it somewhere.