'Old' water question....

[Cuke]

This seems a bit of a daft question but I'll ask it anyway...

We have a few water butts that came with the plot and they don't have lids on (to maximise rain collection I assume). Now the thing is, they're full at the moment but the water has a distinctly green tinge to it, I imagine because it's been sat around for months etc...

My question is, is it safe to use? Or should I be trying to use fresh clean water for my plants?

[Cuke]

[Tee Gee]

Or should I be trying to use fresh clean water for my plants?

If the plants you are referring to are new seedlings then use fresh clean water to prevent disease.

If I were you I would empty a barrel at a time and allow it to refill with fresh rainwater before summer when the stored water will be needed most.

By doing them one at a time you will always have two and a bit  barrels full, in case there isn't  enough rain  to fill all three by the time you need it.

[kt.]

Cut a piece of thin wood to act as a lid but leave a small entrance for rain water to get in to fill it. You will need to place a brick or other heavy object on top to stop the lid blowing off in windy weather. This will help your water stay cleaner for longer.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'd just use it myself. The one possible problem I see, which I've had myself, is that the algae are good food for midge larvae. I once had an algal bloom in a water butt, which was followed shortly after by a plague of midges.

[kt.]

I'd just use it myself.

I agree.   I only have 2 barrels covered, the other 6 are open.   I use them all for watering and have never had any problems.

[debjay]

You can use Jeyes Fliud in your water butt to keep it fresh and to stop mosquitoes breeding.  :D
Debbie

[caseylee]

also a good tip I got was to put a lump of charcoal in the bottom keeps the water fresh

[Barnowl]

Citrox claims to be good for disinfecting water butts and environmentally safe.

[Cuke]

Cheers guys, I think I'll try a combo of different methods. I'll empty one and let it re-fill and then perhaps try putting something in the others to help the water... :)