From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

I have a tub that collects rainwater off the garage roof (not tiled). As
we have not had much rain, I thought I'd have a look and se how much was
left, and found that the water was full of some form of tiny insects and
very brown in clour. Is the wal=ter still safe to use (mainly for indoor orchids and outdoor plants that dont like tap water)?

Is there an easy way of cleaning, or will I have to wait until winter,
empty it all, scrub ir out and start again?

Thanks
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

On 27/06/2025 09:52, Polly@golly wrote:

I have a tub that collects rainwater off the garage roof (not tiled). As
we have not had much rain, I thought I'd have a look and se how much was left, and found that the water was full of some form of tiny insects and very brown in clour. Is the wal=ter still safe to use (mainly for indoor orchids and outdoor plants that dont like tap water)?

Is there an easy way of cleaning, or will I have to wait until winter,
empty it all, scrub ir out and start again?

Thanks

Its inevitable. Probably mosquito larvae.
Personally I think stored rainwater that goes stagnant and stinks is not
fit for anything
--
rCLBut what a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of an hypothesis!rCY

Mary Wollstonecraft

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

Polly@golly <pwllgloyw@gmail.com> wrote:

I have a tub that collects rainwater off the garage roof (not tiled). As
we have not had much rain, I thought I'd have a look and se how much was left, and found that the water was full of some form of tiny insects and very brown in clour. Is the wal=ter still safe to use (mainly for indoor orchids and outdoor plants that dont like tap water)?

Is there an easy way of cleaning, or will I have to wait until winter,
empty it all, scrub ir out and start again?

Thanks

We have a number of rainwater butts, and Mrs Spike keeps the water fresh by adding a small amount of Citrox disinfectant to each. Citrox is made from natural ingredients. A web search will turn up further details. It works a treat.
--
Spike

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

On 27/06/2025 09:52, Polly@golly wrote:

I have a tub that collects rainwater off the garage roof (not tiled). As
we have not had much rain, I thought I'd have a look and se how much was left, and found that the water was full of some form of tiny insects and very brown in clour. Is the wal=ter still safe to use (mainly for indoor orchids and outdoor plants that dont like tap water)?

Is there an easy way of cleaning, or will I have to wait until winter,
empty it all, scrub ir out and start again?

Thanks

Usually mosquito larvae.

https://tinyurl.com/4ru4mbtw

Do they wriggle and when disturbed wriggle down to a deeper depth?

Mosquito larvae are air breathing and have to come to the surface (tail
first) to breath

It's perfectly safe to water plants. The larvae don't survive once out
of water. They will be out of water once the water soaks into the soil.

The other thing you may find is a blood worm - very red, wriggly and
about 1/4 inch long. They are the larvae of midges. If you have these
suspect the quality of the water but still safe to water outdoor plants
but possibly be a bit careful with the orchids unless the water is substantially clear. Again no harm as the worms will die without water.

Is you water but got a cover?
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

On 27/06/2025 09:52, Polly@golly wrote:

I have a tub that collects rainwater off the garage roof (not tiled). As
we have not had much rain, I thought I'd have a look and se how much was left, and found that the water was full of some form of tiny insects and
very brown in clour. Is the wal=ter still safe to use (mainly for indoor orchids and outdoor plants that dont like tap water)?

Is there an easy way of cleaning, or will I have to wait until winter,
empty it all, scrub ir out and start again?

Thanks

Don't know about water butts, but near me a few dozen pumps and sumps
for dealing with marine flooding, in theory.
Rest of the time they collect rainwater and the water in the sumps is milk-chocolate brown from rusting of the iron pump casings. So perhaps
you have iron down pipes/gutters or iron nails holding down corrugated
roofing sheets.
--
Global sea level rise to 2100 from curve-fitted existing altimetry data <http://diverse.4mg.com/slr.htm>
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