Is a rainwater cistern worthwhile for garden irrigation?

The houseplants and garden plants receive water from the cistern all year round, feel the difference compared to tap water. It is not economically viable, but it is good for plants and the environment (less tap water consumption).

Then you can calculate when it pays off. For example, we have a separate water meter for garden water and pay 1.60 € per m3. Then you have to calculate the costs of the cistern and the pump electricity against that. And keep in mind that you still need household water in summers like this one. The most economical option is always your own well, if it can be realized at a reasonable depth.

The same argument came up with gas heating ;) Of course, it doesn’t pay off financially at the moment, but just wait until water prices rise or the use of drinking water is restricted. Private wells are no longer allowed to be drilled in our area and the use of existing ones may also be prohibited because the groundwater levels are dropping so drastically. A large cistern can last several weeks with moderate use. Of course not if you water the lawn every day.

The same argument came up with gas heating ;) Of course, it doesn't pay off financially at the moment, but just wait until water prices rise or the use of drinking water is restricted. Here, no private wells may be drilled anymore, and the use of existing ones may also be prohibited because the groundwater levels are falling so drastically. A large cistern can last for several weeks with sparing use. Of course not if you water the lawn every day.

Here, watering green and garden areas is currently prohibited from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No matter where the water comes from, even from cisterns. But yes, you are right, if the situation changes, a cistern might eventually be worthwhile.

So, a cistern is not financially worthwhile. The installation is also quite complicated and elaborate. We have a 200sqm garden. Our plants have so far done great with tap water.

Our landlady is so crazy about gardening. After the dry winters, during which some plants died, she had a cistern built two years ago. The driveway needed to be paved anyway. As ground floor tenants, we have the right to use the garden, and I am really surprised how much water you need even for such a small area. The cistern is not very big, but that still amounts to quite a few liters of drinking water that we have saved this way.
However, I still hold it against my husband that he installed a water-saving showerhead. :)

9 am to 7 pm are also bad times for watering.

Rainwater is more ecological than drinking water
With an optimal garden layout and sufficient water reserve, you might possibly get through a withdrawal ban without everything getting ruined
Cisterns and rain barrels are currently not cost-effective
Cisterns are more expensive than rain barrels
Rain barrels can be retrofitted at any time
Rain barrels take up a lot of space (excluding the 200-liter decorative barrels)
For 200 sqm and the possibility of a cistern, I would prefer the cistern