The best replacement for cistern is well.

The best alternatives to cistern are rated as following:
★★★★★  well
★  rain barrel
★  ventricle
  quadrigeminal
  sistern

Your alternative for cistern is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about cistern, one probably shouldn't forget about hand pump.

Other search terms related to cistern and their ratings are:
★★★★★ hand pump
★★★ dual flush
hand basin
You have in mind a companion for cistern and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of cistern in all years. Click on graph for more.
cistern
well
rain barrel