Author Topic: Stagnant Water  (Read 6969 times)

1066

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Stagnant Water
« on: September 22, 2008, 17:21:47 »
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

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2008, 18:07:35 »
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

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2008, 18:25:06 »
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

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2008, 18:26:35 »
I meant to add that it hasn't actually stopped me using the water...

thifasmom

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2008, 21:48:38 »
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 :-X. charcoal helps to keep it 'sweet'. or you could also cover it :-\.

Robert_Brenchley

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2008, 22:46:36 »
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

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2008, 08:15:09 »
Keep stirring it. Is the simplest thing.

Looks like it has gone a bit far now though.


1066

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2008, 15:14:08 »
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

kt.

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2008, 17:03:44 »
Another good reason to cover it is to prevent evaporation in the summer sun, especially if you live in a drough affected area....
All you do and all you see is all your life will ever be

OllieC

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2008, 17:16:51 »
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

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2008, 18:55:23 »
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 ,  ???
You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.

flossy

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2008, 19:12:09 »

  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
Hertfordshire,   south east England

shaun01

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2008, 19:20:18 »

  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  ???
You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.

OllieC

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2008, 19:23:28 »
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

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2008, 20:35:34 »
He's using mains water as well. A dustbin lid would cure it in no time.

flossy

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2008, 08:49:20 »
  Sorry Shaun oI,

  Was a long day,   :-[ xxx
Hertfordshire,   south east England

Borlotti

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #16 on: September 25, 2008, 09:54:15 »
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

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2008, 11:39:56 »
Charcoal has always worked foe me

cornykev

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #18 on: September 25, 2008, 16:21:32 »
I'm off for a we.  ;D ;D ;D
MAY THE CORN BE WITH YOU.

1066

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Re: Stagnant Water
« Reply #19 on: September 26, 2008, 15:29:27 »
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  ;D says crossing fingers etc)
1066


 

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