green water in water butts

[johninblackpool]

Hi folks,
One of the old guys on our allotment pointed out to me that all my water butts have turned green over winter, he says that I should empty them wash them out and let them fill again with clean water but to keep them covered, he also said that if I do water my fruit and veg with it, it can cause disease in the soil.
I do take a lot of notice from this guy as he wins a lot in competitions with his veg and fruit and everything on his plot is immaculate.
should I listen to him and empty them out or is there something I can add to the water to help them clear
cheers
John

[Bigmallly]

He's right about keeping it covered John, that's what's caused the algae. As for throwing it away...........yeh, I'd throw it on the plot..........algae is only plant life after all.

[veggiechicken]

Hi John - nice to have you back again
I think the green stuff would only be a problem if you were watering seeds/seedlings.

[arpoet]

Hi John... I stopped collecting water from my greehouse roof because the sap from the trees falling onto the roof then getting washed into the water butt, turned the water sour. I now collect only from the house roof and into water butts with lids, then move the water down the garden by hosepipe as required..

[johninblackpool]

Thanks everyone
once the weather picks up and they eventually empty in summer I will give them a good clean then.
cheers

[Jungle Jane]

I'd heard about this,think there was a case of legionnaires disease in the news a few years ago. I think it would be best if you can use the water now in spring as the bacteria in there multiplies to dangerous levels at temps 20-45 degrees Celsius. There's info here;
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=541

[Mr Bones]

As already said, it's as well to keep it covered. Blanket weed may grow which blocks your watering can rose.

[Aberdeenplotter]

There is a variety of products you can add to the water butt to prevent algae developing but as the others have said, keeping it covered prevents algae developing anyway. A cover also stops birds falling in and drowning. I had that happen and it was so disappointing.

Potassium permanganate can be used to sterilise your water but do your own research on this.

[Kristen]

I'd heard about this,think there was a case of legionnaires disease in the news a few years ago.

I thought the water had to be in droplet / atomised form to catch legionnaires disease? Such as from a shower head.

Also possible if watering a greenhouse with sprayers or perhaps a rose? but unlikely outside or if watering with a stream of water (e.g. watering can without a rose) perhaps?

I'm no expert though.

[Bill HH]

I thought the water had to be in droplet / atomised form to catch legionnaires disease? Such as from a shower head.

Also possible if watering a greenhouse with sprayers or perhaps a rose? but unlikely outside or if watering with a stream of water (e.g. watering can without a rose) perhaps?

I'm no expert though.

You are spot on kristen . We had to have a risk assessment for legionnaires when we had a care home (Cost me three hundred flippin pounds). The only suspect thing in the whole property was my pond fountain. I pointed out that Torquay sea front has dozens of fountains but he was unmoved, it had to go. Things like shower heads should be cleaned regularly too. But (No pun intended) the green stuff in you water butts is not connected to legionnaires and should disapear once you cut out the light providing you containers are not clear plastic of course.

I get the damn stuff everywhere, on my patio slabs, on walls, pots even on the garden furniture because my garden is 20 feet below the surrounding roads and has high walls it just doesn't get enough air to dry out all winter. I use bleach on the walls, slabs and decking which seems to shift it temporarily but it soon comes back.

[Jungle Jane]

I mentioned legionnaires disease because of the link with stagnant water,I'd want to look into if it was me. I also found this info : Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal type of pneumonia, contracted by inhaling airborne water droplets containing viable Legionella bacteria. I don't know much about it,but it's worth investigating,like how far can it travel airborne? If there are people on the plot with weakened immune systems I.e diabetes,then there's a risk? Here's another link about it.
Managing legionella in hot and cold water systems
John in Blackpool said "he says that I should empty them wash them out and let them fill again with clean water but to keep them covered" I wonder this allotment neighbour may have weakened immune or he may know someone who might complain to environmental health?

[Alison]

But a water butt doesn't priduce the necessary droplets of water so I'd not worry about that. Bigger concerns is with things falling into an uncovered butt.

[DannyK]

You need to keep them covered to stop mosquitoes breeding. The slightest opening will attract them. Keep an eye on any trays, bird baths etc and empty them if you see larvae in them.

It's possible green water might harm seedlings but I wash off my pond filters, which are full of green stuff onto the garden and nothings died yet.

[Ovce domácí]

We also get a light greenish scum floating on top of the water butts, doesnt get into the watering can from the butt with the tap at the bottom, but gets in when we use the big basic barrel when the butt with the tap is empty, hard to sieve out, clogs up the watering spout. Mother in law tells me its pollen blown into the gutters. Might post a photo of it.

[Always Learning]

Maybe using a product used to clean ponds would work as that targets green water and eats the organics that create the green water and makes the water much healthier for the fish.
I would imagine that if the algae is removed then the risk is removed.

I have used a product called Envii Pond Klear off ebay which has worked really well in my pond and was all natural as i know some can contain chemicals...cost about a tenner but may be cheaper to just dump the water and refill