Stagnant Water

[1066]

Hi
I have an old dustbin that I use for water on my plot (filled by rain and via mains water on site). The problem is that the water keeps going stagnant. is there anything I can add to the water or do to the bin to stop this?
Thanks

[OllieC]

Can I ask, do you mean really stagnant, or do you mean a little bit green? Because I have never seen water become what I would class as stagnant unless there's a dead carbon based life form in it...

[1066]

dead carbon based life form in it...

That made me laugh!
Yes it's green but its also murky and just generally pretty foul looking - it was worse mid summer when it was hotter.
Not sure if this helps in the diagnosis!!

[1066]

I meant to add that it hasn't actually stopped me using the water...

[thifasmom]

Can I ask, do you mean really stagnant, or do you mean a little bit green? Because I have never seen water become what I would class as stagnant unless there's a dead carbon based life form in it...

yep like the two floating squirrels i found in mine back in spring . charcoal helps to keep it 'sweet'. or you could also cover it .

[Robert_Brenchley]

Cover it. I had an algal bloom in mine one summer; the water turned green, and then that was followed by a plague of gnats as the larvae fed on the algae. I covered it with a dustbin lid, which cut off the light to the algae, and after a couple of weeks, everything was fine again.

[PurpleHeather]

Keep stirring it. Is the simplest thing.

Looks like it has gone a bit far now though.

[1066]

Thanks for the replies (apart from the dead squirrels LOL), I don't really want to cover it as I'd rather get rain water, but maybe in the height of summer it would be better. So I think I'll try the charcoal and see if that has the desired effect (just hope squirrels aren't attracted to charcoal!)
1066

[ktlawson]

Another good reason to cover it is to prevent evaporation in the summer sun, especially if you live in a drough affected area....

[OllieC]

You could cover it with a black bag with a hole in the centre like a corner, pushed down... It'd still collect the rain but keep out the light.

You've brought back decomposing hedgehog-related trauma from my childhood...

[shaun01]

i cant get my head round this one or have i read it wrong u just have an old dust bin to collect rain water and it is going stagnant mmmmmmmmmmmmm in my view it would take years to fill that old bin with just rain drops no down spout off the shed or ewt , 

[flossy]

  Hi shaun01,

  Go back and read 1066's posts again, his first post says he is using an old dustbin !
  not just a lid - is it happy hour x

  Floss xxx

[shaun01]

  Hi Shaun01,

  Go back and read 1066's posts again, his first post says he is using an old dustbin !
  not just a lid - is it happy hour x

  Floss xxx

lol i think it was i am still very confused someone please help me (bin lid ) i am going to bed 

[OllieC]

From the met office website:
The average annual rainfall varies enormously over the UK from about 5,000 mm (200 inches) in parts of the western highlands of Scotland to about 500 mm (20 inches) in parts of East Anglia and the Thames Estuary

So, it would take a couple of years in some places...

[Robert_Brenchley]

He's using mains water as well. A dustbin lid would cure it in no time.

[flossy]

  Sorry Shaun oI,

  Was a long day,    xxx

[Borlotti]

When we had hot summers the water in my water butts at home smelt disgusting and I bought something to purify the water, it was so long ago that I can't remember what it was but think gardening shops do a water butt water purifier if you see what I mean.  Also I think I put cooking oil on top to stop the insects.  Haven't had much trouble this year with the water smelling. I put stinging nettles and water in a old water butt at the allotment and don't mind the smell as know it would stink but don't like all the insects, will tip it out and hope I don't get bitten as there are thousands of horrible insects.

[izzywizz]

Charcoal has always worked foe me

[cornykev]

I'm off for a we. 

[1066]

Good grief - bins, lids, dead animals - what next? No on second thoughts don't go there!

Explanation - I figured that I should try to get as much rainwater as possible, and to top it up with water from the taps on site, as and when needed. At present there is no lid as its an old bin. And I do plan to try and get some downpipe thingymies when the shed is sorted out (properly).

Sooooo, judging from the replies I'll get some charcoal and maybe a lid or at least some mesh to stop the animals launching themselves in there, and hopefully connect it up to some downpipes and all will be well !! (SHE  says crossing fingers etc)
1066