I have the use of brown water (canal water that is not covered) during the summer months I just tested it and it starts at a PH of 7 and 200 PPM. is there any reason I should not use this water as the tap water is PH of 7.8 and 350+ PPM?
brown water
- Thread starter One Love 731
- Start date
brown meaning there's an abundant amount of things floating in the water? I don't see how it could be only 200. You may need a new ppm meter if not I guess you could but the parts in the water could contain high amounts of salts or toxins that even in amounts that small could negatively affect your plants.
Oh and also take into account that the uncovered water will breed insects that you may not have now but in the summer months may flourish.
Hope that helps since it seems no one else will.
Good luck.
Oh and also take into account that the uncovered water will breed insects that you may not have now but in the summer months may flourish.
Hope that helps since it seems no one else will.
Good luck.
We call it brown water as it is not the regular city water. It is from the canal which is only 1-2 miles from the mouth of the canyon were it is diverted from the river (mostly snow run off) for use by the few of us with irrigation rights, mostly farmers. The water it self is not brown in color at all and actually tastes great. Also, I do not know of any orchards or farms above the canal that would be the cause of pesticide or chemical runoff in the mile or so from were I live to the base of the canyon. The only reason I ask if it is ok to use is it is not treated, filtered or changed in any way, its basically river water, hopefully that's a good thing. I do not know if there would be insects as the water is far from stagnant. Last summer I jumped in to save a rocket me and my son built together, going from 100+f temps. to maybe 40f water temps. and with a very aggressive under tow I almost drown. Every year it seems we loose children to the heavy current. I do apologize for the title and lack of info. As far as my PPM meter, its right on. Karma, One Love
The main concern would be pathogens from all the things that feed the river, including but not limited to: fish poop, bird poop, dead things, poisons in natural deposits(because nature does make some naturally poisonous compounds). I'd think it would be great water for feeding a compost pile, which in turn could colonize the good stuff with beneficials, and turn any of the bad components into good things. I'd probably filter or sterilize(boil) the water before I'd use it on potted plants. Outdoor plants yeah, go for it, but indoor plants don't have the same ecosystem outdoor ones do.
I'm sure it's fine... BCSounds a hell of a lot better than whats coming out of your tap OneLove !
That fish poop etc feed a natural eco system in the water, known as the nitrogen cycle, which is why its showing OL the 200ppm. The nitrogen cycle converts the poo into nice nitrates that plants love. Now think about what kinds of chems are in ol's tap water. Chlorine, chloramines, bicarbonates etc, and it becomes more clear that the river water is probably just fine for watering an organic soil container. Hell you wouldnt drink aquarium water, but it's dynomite plant water (provided the fish keeper didn't pollute the fish tanks with sodium laden additives and fish medications etc anyway).
Boil it ? ... "HELL NO" ! That would kill off the bene's
The only real concern, in the kind of river OL's talking about imho, would be introducing bugs, gnats etc which might be carried in the river water.
A very mild problem already inherent in organic soil mixes from the get go.
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