Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Brown froffy water coming from water butt?

Chris MasonChris Mason Posts: 159
in Problem solving

 

Hello, yesterday I set up a water butt, earlier today it rained and a few moments ago I poured some water out of it, the water is quite a urinal looking color but smells fine, earlier when it did rain I took the lid off to check everything was working fine, as the water was going in I saw some froffy type stuff on the water(it's now gone) would this water be okay for plants?    Is there some kind of test I can do or some how check the quality of the water?    Thank you

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    I have found that water from flat garage roofs (mineral felt and chippings type of thing) can look a bit odd and foam a bit.  Don't think it's a problem tho'.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Chris MasonChris Mason Posts: 159

     

    I did lie a little bite to keep things simple, 

     

    I don't actually have a water butt tank etc, I basciacally installed the water diverter which them goes into a large bucket, which will then be poured into a large water storage contain (150L) I have to use this set up because if I installed the water butt next to the guttering system it would block our path.....

    The way I've done it blocks the path when it's raining (when nobody will be out side, and then allows me to 'reopen' the path when its not raining when obviously the path will be used.)

     

    Yep, the water is coming off the roof, thank you all for your responses 

  • Katherine WKatherine W Posts: 410

    Our rain water collects smoky soot from the roof and after a long dry spell it looks more like strong tea than water. It will happen anywhere a wood fire is used, and anywhere else too, although maybe not so obviously. I would not worry.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I get a good head on the water from my butt especially when it first rains after a long dry spell. There's also a lot of 'bits' floating on the top.
    I have checked to see if there's extra stuff dissolved in the water, but there's not. I get a TDS reading of around 0.02 to 0.03 regardless of the froth or not.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Sign In or Register to comment.