Which type of cold water system typically uses a storage cistern to supply cold water indirectly?

• A. Indirect
• B. Direct
• C. Semi-direct
• D. Booster-fed

Answer: (A)

The test is checking understanding of how water is delivered in indirect cold water systems. In an indirect setup, cold water isn’t taken straight from the mains to the taps. Instead, mains water fills a storage cistern (often located in the loft), and this stored water provides the supply to cold taps and to the hot-water cylinder via a coil. The pressure at the outlets comes from the weight of the stored water (the head) rather than the instantaneous mains pressure, giving gravity-fed pressure and a buffer for fluctuations.

This is why a storage cistern is typical: it creates a ready-to-use reservoir that powers the cold feed indirectly, with the boiler heating the hot water in a separate cylinder. In contrast, a direct system feeds cold water directly from the mains with no cistern, a booster-fed system relies on pumps to boost pressure, and a semi-direct arrangement blends elements but doesn’t rely on a loft storage cistern for the cold supply in the same way.