I have a water butt fed from a flat(ish) felted roof. It is not used
that much, mainly for the indoor orchids and the pots of blueberries. I
have notice the water is coming out brown and looking inside there
seems to be a brownish slime on the sides of the butt. Should I empty
the butt and wash it out, or is the water reasonably safe to use.
Obviously with winter on its way, emptying and re-filling should not be
a problem, but is it worth it?

Thanks

In article <skcmo3$m5e$1@dont-email.me>,
Polly@golly <pwllgloyw@gmail.com> wrote:
>I have a water butt fed from a flat(ish) felted roof. It is not used
>that much, mainly for the indoor orchids and the pots of blueberries. I
>have notice the water is coming out brown and looking inside there
>seems to be a brownish slime on the sides of the butt. Should I empty
>the butt and wash it out, or is the water reasonably safe to use.
>Obviously with winter on its way, emptying and re-filling should not be
>a problem, but is it worth it?

I wouldn't bother. It will be a layer of bacteria, but the chances
of that sort of bacterium also being pathogenic are negligible. If
it is very murky, you could filter the water through a cloth or some
kitchen roll before using it on orchids, but I doubt blueberries will
care.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 15/10/2021 21:02, Polly@golly wrote:
> I have a water butt fed from a flat(ish) felted roof. It is not used
> that much, mainly for the indoor orchids and the pots of blueberries. I
> have notice the water is coming out brown and looking inside  there
> seems to be a brownish slime on the sides of the butt. Should I empty
> the butt and wash it out, or is the water reasonably safe to use.
> Obviously with winter on its way, emptying and re-filling should not be
> a problem, but is it worth it?

Probably not at all worthwhile unless the reason it is running out brown
is that a thick layer of gunge at the bottom has now reached the outlet
tap. My water butts have lids on to prevent algal growth and stay clear.
The water runs clear for a decade or so before build up of sediments in
the bottom means it runs mucky or after a while doesn't run at all.

It only takes one leaf across the exit tap inlet and flow is down to
almost nil. How leaves get in is a mystery but sometimes they do.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 16/10/2021 09:01, Martin Brown wrote:
> On 15/10/2021 21:02, Polly@golly wrote:
>> I have a water butt fed from a flat(ish) felted roof. It is not used
>> that much, mainly for the indoor orchids and the pots of blueberries. I
>> have notice the water is coming out brown and looking inside  there
>> seems to be a brownish slime on the sides of the butt. Should I empty
>> the butt and wash it out, or is the water reasonably safe to use.
>> Obviously with winter on its way, emptying and re-filling should not be
>> a problem, but is it worth it?
>
> Probably not at all worthwhile unless the reason it is running out brown
> is that a thick layer of gunge at the bottom has now reached the outlet
> tap. My water butts have lids on to prevent algal growth and stay clear.
> The water runs clear for a decade or so before build up of sediments in
> the bottom means it runs mucky or after a while doesn't run at all.
>
> It only takes one leaf across the exit tap inlet and flow is down to
> almost nil. How leaves get in is a mystery but sometimes they do.

I get ash keys in my water butts; they are blown onto the greenhouse
roof, and that feeds the butts. They are just small enough to pass
through the tubing. I can't say I've ever found leaves in the butts.
More of a problem is the one butt connected to the house gutter downpipe
(which has a diverter). That collects bits of moss which come off the
tiles, particularly after a rainstorm. I also get a slow build-up of
concrete "dust" from the roof tiles. Once every few years - if I
remember - I empty out the butt and hose it out to remove all the bits
collected over the years.

--

Jeff