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Brown coloured water from water butt

msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
in Problem solving
Hi all, we installed this new water butt to our down pipe a month ago. Lid is shut. The first batch of rain water collected from it was relatively clear. But after we used it up, the next batch of water it collected turns out to be a brown colour, with some white foam on top as well. Wonder if this is normal please? Thanks!

  


Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    My car has once again got Saharan sand dust all over it again a few days ago - it could be that

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Pete.8 said:
    My car has once again got Saharan sand dust all over it again a few days ago - it could be that
    Ah you might be right. I forgot about the sand and dirt that got blown into our house the other day...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Water from a butt will usually be discoloured and is nothing to worry about. Some people advise you should clean them out once a year but I've never bothered (and couldn't reach anyway!). It won't hurt the plants.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Unless you scrub your roof daily, certain amounts of soil and microscopic debris will drain down into the butt.
    If it doesn't smell suspicious, I wouldn't worry,  The rain you collect in your butt will also be falling on your garden ;)
     
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