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Stagnant water butt
All_Change
Posts: 2
Hello We've inherited a water butt when we moved into our new home just over a year ago. We've only just got around to checking it out and it looks rather manky, the water is stagnant and full of bugs. I'm not sure what to do with it, is it ok to use the water on the garden? Or am I best off emptying it, rinsing it and ststarting over again? The last thing I want to do is water my garden and inadvertently spread bugs everywhere! Tia
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Posts
I'd drain it and tip the water onto a dryish area in the garden - it won't do any harm. Then give it a good scrub out - I'd use this http://www.just-green.com/323/Just-Green-Just-Water-Butt-Cleaner---1-Litre.html as it won't harm plants, pets or wildlife.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Once you have cleaned out your water butt, I would invest in some EM Ceramics from http://www.shop.embiotechsolutions.co.uk/AquaFresh-EM-Ceramics-Water-Butt-Treatment-250g-AquaFresh250.htm, these are amazing at stopping rainwater from going stagnant indefinitely.
Make absolutely sure you have a good light-excluding lid for the butt, then the water will remain clear and bug-free from one year to the next. For free!
All-Change - I'm sorry to come into this conversation with a problem of my own, but on the subject of stagnant water, I too was wondering if it can be poured over the garden.
I did a really stupid thing. Last year we had builders stuff all over the garden and at the same time someone was wanting rid of two half barrels which had been used as planters. Being a forager - I took the two half barrels and just left them out in the garden all year until now. We had loads of slates left from a new roof so to do a half tidy up, I piled the slates into the barrels outside and left them from this time last year until now.
Last week I started to look over the garden and try to plan how to recover some of the damage and mess which had been left from the building materials lying around for months last year. And there were the two half barrels full of old slates. I'd made a couple of small beds already with slates piled up and had thought I might come up with some use for the remainder of them this year. BUt - it seems there were no drainage holes in the half barrels and once I'd pulled out the top layer of slates, both barrels are full of stagnant water. I hadn't really noticed the smell until I moved the top layer of slates - and believe me, it's not just a smell it's an absolute stink. I pulled slates out with thick rubber gloves on - and I'm not one to be squeamish usually - but the smell was so bad I could only clear out one barrel. Both barrels still have this absolutely stinking water in them and I'm really unsure as to whether I can pour it over my little grass area without stinking the place out. We're surrounded by neighbours and I don't want a problem if the water kind of hangs around, kills my grass or something.
Can anyone advise on whether it's ok to pour it over the tiny lawn in this state of stink? I was tempted to throw a pile of Milton sterilising tablets into the water but of course that might have a bad effect on the area I pour the water onto. I don't know at all.
Any advice really welcome. The barrels will of course get a good scrubbing and holes drilled to use them as planters. They would make two good ponds I guess but I'm more keen to have them as planters.
What does everyone think? Is stinking stagnant water the kiss of death to grass and flower borders?
Tip it out - it'll drain away and you'll forget all about it by tomorrow.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My butt stinks but I'm using the water. I wouldn't use it on babies but I'm watering in the shrubs I'm planting.
In the sticks near Peterborough
To help in the future - remove the pipe that leads from the downpipe into your waterbutt - the flexible hose, they usually just pull of with little twist. Crush up some charcoal - about 1/4 of a BBQ block should do it, stuff the smashed charcoal inside the cut off foot of a pair of tights and tie a knot.
Rinse the charcoal bag you have now got until the water runs clear and then stuff inside the waterbutt side of the flexible hose - also wrap a single layer of tights fully around the the waterbutt side of the flexible hose to stop sed package of charcoal washing out and into the waterbutt.
Of note - make sure its not tightly packed or too much charcoal stuffed in, it will stop the flow of rain water - you can test it by putting it all in place and removing the lid of the diverter and pouring some water down - it will slow the flow but once the charcoal becomes saturated it should flow okay.
Technically - this simple filter would make the water fit to drink, and charcoal is used in survival water filters - its a wonderful material, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are in an actual survival situation, just in case.
You could also put some loose gravel in the flexible hose - before the charcoal package and secure it again with a bit of 'tights' material on the gutter side but everything you add will slow the flow. - this would act to filter larger debris before they hit the charcoal package and keep flow smoother for longer without the need for cleaning the charcoal / replacing it. - although it is only a 5 minute job.
I use a plastic filter cap in the actual diverter rather than stones in the hose - wide enough to only stop leaves etc and not reduce flow.
You should still empty your waterbutt as often as possible to keep fresh flow if not being used all the time - and once a year drop some sterilising tablets into a full one and leave and then waste and rinse.
This is what I do - it works a treat and is simple to maintain, and I dont worry when my 3 year old wants to water her plants and do it herself that the water is going to be 'nasty'.