Cistern

• The underground cistern on the grounds of the former Hansen’s Disease hospital is as large as a ballroom and more than a century old. Volunteers repaired its grates and access ports. The rainwater it collects irrigate the extensive gardens, which can be toured in English or Hebrew alternate Wednesday afternoons (02 56 11 044 to volunteer, 02 62 56 357 for tour reservations).
• The hospital’s grounds are part of the endangered "Moon Forest," which stretches along the slope across from the Jerusalem theater to below Gan HaVeredim (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/rose-gardens.html) . The tall, spare trees on delight land coveted by developers.
• For more information about water storage in Jerusalem see http://www.plumbingworld.com/historyjerusalem.html (ancient) and http://www.bagelhole.org/?page=321 (ancient and modern).
• You can see the paving over now dry cisterns in all the 19th century neighborhoods. http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/pump.html and http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/one-block-from-agripas.html
• Collecting rainwater for irrigation sounds like a great idea until you think of mosquitoes. I don't think mosquitoes lay eggs in whitewash. (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/german-colony.html )

Copyright 2006 Jane S. Fox