Creek/Lake/Stream water

[Chitownstoner]

Is it safe to use creek/lake/stream water. I am going to be outside planting in the forest. It would be alot easier for me to just fill up a 33gal container and walk it back to my site, then to will it up with fresh water from my hose and drive it, and go into the forest. Alot of streams run close to my site.

 

[ahssensi]

I use it, as long as someone is not dumping raw sewage or runoff from a feed lot you should be ok.

 

[Mr.Pyrex]

may i suggest a PH kit and up and down, just to make sure the water is right, you dont want to be watering your babies with horrible water and kill them

 

[hamstring]

Are there fish or other wildlife in the stream?

Are there other plants near or in this water?

If yes to any I would say it is fine.

 

[P@ZD@T]

Hell yeah bro...thats the GOOOOOD stuff.See if you can find a battery operated submersable pump...a few hundred foot of hose,and you'll save yourself a little trouble.Just haul the little pump in...hook er' up and fire up a fatty.When you get to your spot...pat yourself on the back,and smoke a fatty for me...lmao!

 

[TBug]

High chi! Just being "devil's advocate" because Ive never used it....lol. But Id be concerned about other contaniments like bacterial pathogens and unwanted pests in the form of aquatic larva and tiny eggs. The clorine tends to be mild clenser for those. Thats just the way I see it. I suppose if the natural water source is close enough, it wouldnt make much diff, though.
Hope I helped...lol
Peace, bugout

 

[Chitownstoner]

Thanks for your help guys. Thats the same thing i was concered about. BACTERIA! But i do think it is safe because hey the fish are still swimming in it. When i looked at it, the water looked clear. It would suck filling up a garabage can from home and taking deep into the forest with 33gals on my hand.

I thought about the pump idea. Is that loud? If i do decide to use a pump, i would hook it up 2 a sprinkler to it at like 1am and then shut it off at like 6am. I could do this about every 4-5 days. I have about 5 diffrent spots picked out along the area. They all can drink out at a close water source.

 

[Vol Funk]

Are there fish or other wildlife in the stream?

Are there other plants near or in this water?

If yes to any I would say it is fine.

^^ This

and don't use non-moving water. I think that's where it collects it toxic (streams, river or whatever).

 

[FirstTracks]

as hamstring pointed out, if fish are living in it and/or deer are drinking it and its flowing(volfunk) then you should be all set.
There are obvious exceptions to this rule such as.....
-are you a mile downstream from a major factory
-are there dead fish floating on top
etc

pH really shouldn't be an issue with the water. As long as you're planted in the ground, the soil there will probably affect the pH of your water almost as much as its source.

You probably already know this tidbit, but avoid trails from the water source to your site, as thats how the cop choppers will find it most easily. GOing right along with that, if you use a hose with a pump, please please please don't set up the hose permanently unless it's buried as a white or bright green hose will stick out like a sore thumb from the air, especially come fall.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Is it safe to use creek/lake/stream water. I am going to be outside planting in the forest. It would be alot easier for me to just fill up a 33gal container and walk it back to my site, then to will it up with fresh water from my hose and drive it, and go into the forest. Alot of streams run close to my site.

#1- There are few sources of fresh water out there that will damage your plants, don't hesitate to use "wild" water, even water from stagnent ponds is perfectly safe for use. I would only be concerned if the water is obviously poluted by a mill or factory.

#2- Water weighs 8lbs per gallon, your 33 gallon garbage can would weigh more than most healthy humans, 264lbs! I find 8 gallons to be a pretty heavy load for walking more than a few hundred feet, I usually limit my loads to 4-6 gallons for comfort.

Depending on the situation, you may want to look into a electric pump and some garden hose.

 

[Chitownstoner]

I can't use a pump at all. The water source is a bit far way. At a distance, people are fishing. The water from the fishing lake is also diverted into many large/small streams that i will use.

264=33 yikes!!! thats for that information. I knew it was gonna be heavy... heh

So im gonna fill it up about half way.

 

[Ajunta Pall]

Watch out for run off from farms, excess ferts in the water can burn your plants! Some army surplus stores carry tablets that claim to purify any contaminated water. Don't know if they are worth the investment though.

 

[ethereal]

Is it safe to use creek/lake/stream water. I am going to be outside planting in the forest. It would be alot easier for me to just fill up a 33gal container and walk it back to my site, then to will it up with fresh water from my hose and drive it, and go into the forest. Alot of streams run close to my site.

clean running streams creeks rivers etc are prime. contain a plethora of secondary elements likely not found in yer garden hose just be careful in the forest--
pine/evergreen forests have super-acidic soil, this is what evergreens need to thrive. cannabis doesnt like the pH 5 soil so much

g'luck

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

There should be no reason to purify water, and if run off from a farm is strong enough to burn a nitrogen lover like Cannabis then that farm is likely out of business fsince all their plants are likely burned.

Don't fret about the water!!

 

[Surfnfisher]

Pumps are quiet and cheap. Haul a deep cycle battery in there and some half inch irrigation hose. Get a small solar charger. Hide everything near you scene. Once a week go aout and set the pump and hose up and feed. The solar charger will keep the battery charged when you are away. DC pumps are at boating stores. sounds fun to me. Good luck.

 

[fishheadbob]

How much water will you need? How often? Does it rain there?
If your grow is small to medium a few 5 gallon pails will do the trick to keep you watered between rains. If you're so big you need an irrigation system, different ball of wax
I wouldn't worry about the water quality; fish live in it, people use it to fish, maybe swim. Don't concern yourself with farm runoff unless somebody is growing right up to the banks of the water. Even then, fertilizers are expensive, farmers don't like to fertilize water, it causes them to go broke, and gives them mucho problems with local enviromental agencies.

 

[SmokeAnother]

I can't use a pump at all. The water source is a bit far way. At a distance, people are fishing. The water from the fishing lake is also diverted into many large/small streams that i will use.

264=33 yikes!!! thats for that information. I knew it was gonna be heavy... heh

So im gonna fill it up about half way.

IMO, if you can see those people fishing from your "spot", I would chose another location. I try to avoid recreational area, and if recreation is in the area, you need to go very far away, then go very far away again, then go very far away again. If you thik your outdoor spot is far enough away, go even farther away. Where I live there is an outdoor garden in most water drainages, the ones that get found are a good distance from roads, streams, ect. The ones that never get found are a GOOD, GOOD, GOOD distance away. It may hard to water, plant, ect if it is that far away, but think about all the work you do and if that crop gets found/stolen/busted, its far better to go that extra distance.

As far as the water, the best source is found where no other human activity is in the area. A pond is not your best source neither is a stagant pool of water, the concentrates in stagnet water can be problems. Look for clear, COLD runnig water, the colder the better...it could mean its comming very close to the natural source, naturally filtered, and sometimes better then filtered. I also like to figure out the source of the water. I prefer a spring fed stream, compared to a outlet stream of a lake, a creek is better then a river. I would smell the water, sometimes oderous sulfer, or bacteria funk is present, it could have high amounts of minerals. If you have a ph and ppm meter, test it, or take it to somewhere to test if your concerned. Most water is good, just take notice of the small things and avoid possible problems. Also its not very common, but there are spring sources that contain very dangerous chemicals from the past, frfom things like mining camps, or possibily natural occuring chemicals. Old maps and locals would know about thses things. Good Luck and HAppyPlanting Smoke

 

[Chitownstoner]

Thanks for your concern on the location but my location is pretty darn good. The lake is pretty far way, but no to far to really piss me off. The location is extremely hard to get to. My location is in the forest, with tons of rabbits, and animal trails. Tons and tons of small bushes, many with thorns. Also i have great large trees hovering around me. I have found no human activity near or around my area besides for some pepsi cans from the 90s. This spot is way off the trail for anyone. I mean its a bitch for me to get in and out. Im going to have about 40plants at the least. I won't really have to water that much b/c rainfall is usually good here. But sometimes there are droughts here. If i can give each plant about a gallon a week, then i'll be happy. I was thinking about filling up about 3 large 33 gallon cans with water and hide them underground. Premixed with organics and ready 2 go. When its time to water, i can easily just open a garbage lid, and let the water handle fill up and pour over the plants. Thats 99 gallon of water that will last for about most of the month. When all 99 gallons are gone, then i have to fill them up the hard way. Manual labor sucks, but its worth all the pain and effort. And im really looking forward to mosquitoes season!