Would you use this water on your veg?

[MrsCordial]

We have an old metal water tank tucked away in a cranny of our garden. I've never investigated it before as it's surrounded by nettles etc but DH suggested using it now the main water butt is all but empty. I had a look yesterday but couldn't see well as the lid is very heavy and it's a dark corner, but I thought I could see an old bit of rusty metal in there. It wouldn't surprise me as OBORM turn up frequently in the veg patch.

It's going to be a major task (for DH ) to get the tap working as it's completely seized, but if he can it will mean gallons more water we can use on the veg patch. Question is, would you use that water on your veg when you don't know what might be lurking in its depths? We haven't touched it in the 2 1/2 years we've lived here.

[WendyC]

I'd use the tank but probably not the water it has in it at the moment. After a good scrub out should be fine. Sorry no idea what OBORM is/are!

[taff]

As long as it isnt lead lined or anything, i'd use it. No ton the veg though, on flowers.

[Bigmallly]

Would be tempted to use it on flowers or maybe fruit trees where the water does not directly touch the fruit.

[taff]

odd bits of rusty metal

[Mikey]

If unsure, you could always fit a filter to the tap to remove any impurities. What fills it?

[MrsCordial]

That's a good idea Mikey. It's filled from a gutter along the edge of a rickety old barn - it's the corner of the garden where everything goes to die. I'd love to have access to all that lovely water, with no rain forecast for the next 10 days. It's not the established plants I'm so bothered about, it's the seeds and seedlings that are out there atm and that I plan to get in the ground over the next fortnight (mainly peas, beans, mustard greens, kohl rabi and spring onions).

I agree about it not touching the fruit or veg directly, I wouldn't have let that happen, it was more I was concerned that anything rotten or rusty in the water might kill the plants?

[SarzWix]

I'd use it, if OBORM were any risk to plants mine would have all died ages ago cos they're everywhere in my soil; that's the joys of having a plot that was previously a dumping ground Like you said, just water the soil and not the plant to be on the safer side

[Potstubsdustbins]

Personally I would water just one plant first. Rusty metal wouldn't do any harm neither will a lead lining unless its disturbed. But you have no idea what was kept or dropped into the tank before it filled with water.

Potty

[mothhawk]

Well, I'd do as Potty says ^^^^ and water one plant first, (or a weed or two) or sow a few seeds in a tray and water to see if they germinate. But if it's filled from a gutter it was obviously designed to be useable stuff, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Maybe do a pH test on it though, if there's a lot of OBORM in there.

[MrsCordial]

Have I invented a new board acronym?!

Thanks for all the advice. I'd really love to be able to use the water, after giving it a hard stare, so I'll get DH out there with the monkey wrench at the weekend.