Yukky looking water trough

[reddyreddy]

Hello, the allotment I have only has a water trough with hidden ball thingy which fills as you use it with mains water. Problem is there are only 4 allotmements and obviously it hasn't been used over winter so it is full of rotting leaves etc and looks revolting.  :-\ Is the water ok to water my veg with?!!

[reddyreddy]

[saddad]

I wouldn't use it on seedlings myself... but it'll be fine on things like over-wintering onions...  :)

[lewic]

Ours was pretty disgusting, stagnant with clumps of algae in it, and I didnt fancy putting on my seedlings either!

I pulled out the algae by hand, set up a siphon, and let it run for a couple of hours. Came back to a clean(ish) trough.

[veggamite]

Why don't you set too and clean it out.  Tie up the ball thingy and then remove water and debris and clean sides - then allow it to fill up with nice clean water.  You won't have a problem then. 

[cornykev]

We have 4 or 5 on site and someone covered our one with some wood in the winter, the last 10/12 days here have been hot and sunny and I have been watering and I commented to our Secretary how clear the water was, I don't know what the other troughs look like but covering it seems the way. As already said only use the water on established plants and not seedlings.   ;D ;D ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

There'll be goodness in the water from all that rotting material. Don't waste it!

[saddad]

Welcome to the site Veggamite, sneaking in there when we weren't looking...
;D

[Duke Ellington]

Some of the allotment holders where I am dunk their boots and tools in and wash off the mud in the water trough.
>:( Its the one and only thing that really annoys me at our allotment >:(

Duke ~~ letting off steam!!

[artichoke]

Isn't there a lid that you can lift off and use clean water straight from the water pipe?

[Duke Ellington]

Well not that I am aware of ......its a small tank open tank with a ballcock with a small inlet pipe.

Duke

[betula]

We have the same water system.I have got one on my plot so very lucky.
I keep putting the bucket in,empty it ,repeat several times and it soon is fine again. :)

[reddyreddy]

Thanks for all your replies, the ballcock is hidden so would be hard to tie up and would take 40 or so cans to empty I have scooped out as much of the debris as possible, I am going to buy a little net like you use for fish and try cleaning it that way.

[betula]

It is easier to do it with a plastic bucket.Well worth the effort :)