a clogged cistern can be an invisible problem learn how to keep dirt leaves and even slugs out of your cistern with these easy steps you only need a screwdriver different colored stickers and if you want our maintenance guy here's the downspout which goes through the cistern lid under the lid is a screen to capture leaves and other debris when you want to use this water for irrigating you can connect a hose to the spigot for most of the year this valve stays open to allow water to flow out to a rain garden or side sewer water is released very slowly by the orifice which is inside this white housing the water will go to the rain garden or side sewer start by closing the valve to hold back any water next unscrew the white plastic orphis housing remove the orifice which is this black rubber washer clean the orifice if you have water in your cistern just turn on the spigot to rinse the Orcas out make sure you can see through the hole put the orifice back in place reconnect the housing and open the valve to let the water flow again in September be sure to open the low flow valve so that rain can flow into your rain garden or side sewer the valve is open when the handle is parallel to the white pipe leaves dirt and so much more land on your roof all year long plus if you have a composite roof the grit on the shingles may slowly come off making its way into your gutters eventually all this debris collects in your gutters until rain washes it down your downspouts and into your sister without knowing it you may have a clogged cistern please clean your gutters at least once a year to keep your cistern clean your system screen prevents leaves weeds and even slugs from getting into your cistern but if you don't clean it it'll clog a severely clogged screen may send water to your side sewer instead of the cistern don't grow weeds or give habitat to slugs keep it clean start by putting stickers on the lid beside the screws and then matching stickers on the cistern so that when you're ready to reassemble you can more easily match up the holes next move the downspout out of the lid opening and out of the way then unscrew and remove the cistern lid the screen is underneath take it out and dump any leaves and debris into your compost bin now it's time to reassemble put the screen back in place and line up the holes with the stickers on your sister screw the lid back into place you're ready to go now if you want to save water for your garden please wait until May to close the low flow valve turn the valve so that it's perpendicular to the white pipe connect a hose to the spigot and you're ready to water check your cistern for a sticker that will remind you when to do these steps each year for more pictures and help refer to our maintenance guide online or contact the garden hotline thank you for maintaining your rain garden and cistern to protect our waterways