Stagnant water butt

[redrichwen]

Hi everyone!

I have a water butt which is full, but because off where it is situated i haven't tended to use it. Its now gone horrible and smelly, i guess through decomposing leaves which fell in over winter and the lack of use.
I want to move it to a better spot. My question is should i just tip the water out, or will it still be okay to use to water the allotment, in which case everything will get a drenching this afternoon to empty it as much as possible?

Thanks in advance for your words of wisdom!!

Redrichwen

[redrichwen]

[AdeTheSpade]

I'm sure I read somewhere that if you put charcoal in your water butt it keeps it clean?  However, if that's not an option, think I'd personally chuck it all out, clean out the butt and start again, and not use it on your plants - I wouldn't want to take the chance of spoiling the plants.

[redrichwen]

I'm sure I read somewhere that if you put charcoal in your water butt it keeps it clean?  However, if that's not an option, think I'd personally chuck it all out, clean out the butt and start again, and not use it on your plants - I wouldn't want to take the chance of spoiling the plants.

Thanks for the answer! I'd be gutted if all my plants keeled over, so will take your advice.

Redrichwen

[Baccy Man]

It will be fine on most plants personally I would avoid using it on newly planted seedlings but would be happy to use it on anything else. The leaves/sludge from the bottom can be added to your compost heap.
Charcoal or potassium permanganate will keep the water from smelling bad in the future. Covering the water butt will prevent debris falling in & algal growth.

[redrichwen]

Thanks Baccyman, i will use it on the established bushes, plants, etc, think one of the compost heaps is a bit on the dry side too, so will give it a bucket of water also. Would hate to let it all go to waste.  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'd use it. The answer to that sort of problem is an old dustbin lid, which stops stuff falling in.

[cacran]

I would just use it, personally. I have put on old satalite dish on top of one of my waterbuts, it stops debris but catches rain.

[Jokerman]

try drinking it... if your still alive in the morning then it's probably fine....  ;D

[PurpleHeather]

Stir it up and use it on established plants.

I would suggest it is enriched with the algae and would act like a liquid manure. May be too strong for seedlings but I was always led to believe that plants could filter stagnant water which was unfit for human consumption.

My water butt is covered and has a tap on it so I would never notice if it had algae or not.