Allotments 4 All

Hi all,

We have a new polytunnel and several water butts with an automatic watering system.
Hub wants to know if there's any chance of Legionnaire's disease from the spray from the stored water.
Can anyone reassure him, please?

Found this
http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/legionnaires.htm

I feel a cough coming on. And a letter to the council from my sickbed asking for taps onsite!

I like the way that page regards rust as organic!

I suppose that if your dearly beloved wore a face mask when spraying it would offer protection.

Not that I imagine there is a problem with it any more than I think people will get malaria from the mosquitoes who might call water butts home.

Thing is, nothing seems to be 100% safe these days.

Put some oil(olive or vegetable of any type) in the butt.

Stops the malaria ridden mosquito from hanging under the water...

I am no expert but I though legionnaires required warm water i.e. air con units, shower rooms etc..... A a cold water butt....., never seen any health warnings. No malaria even if you do have mozzie larvae in yoru water butt.
As for rust being organic, it doesn't have any carbon it it, it can't be organic (sorry, chemists speaking....)

Be careful if you are using rainwater to spray onto things like tomatoes, as far as I am aware, blight spores can be carried in the rain.

This sight gives more information about blight.

http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/lateblighthg.htm

I gave my water barrel a dose of Citrox (25 ml per 100 litre) but not sure if it was really necessary.