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Petrolia,Ontario. Canada

I have a well at my house which I use to water all the gardens with. I am wondering if there is any issues you guys can see with using this water??? I also wonder if I should get a water test done

thanks Lonnie

1/27/2010 5:15:35 PM

Ohio

good question Lonnie, I was wondering the same thing myself with a spring I have.
What are some of the things in spring/well water you might have to look out for that this water might have to much of that could hurt your plants.

1/28/2010 6:30:34 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If you drink the water you should definitely get a test done. My well is overdue for a test but it has always been very high quality. Just a little high in lime and iron. Well and spring water can vary a lot depending on geology, land use in the area, chemical useage, spills etc. Usually wells with that have a good protective layer of clay in the soil that keeps bad stuff from leaching down are better. Shallow wells, sand points and wells in Karst areas are more prone to problems. Generally I would think that if it is OK to drink is should be OK for plants.

1/28/2010 9:43:16 AM

Ohio

thanks Iowegian and thanks Bourney for posting this,

I never have drank the spring water here before, but years ago the old farm house that was here used it, untill they run the county water through.

The spring would drain into a pump house (that is still here on my property) into cement type tub that was then pumped into the house .
But I was wondering about the Iron and lime that might be in spring/well water that you was talking about. Does these minerals deplete if the water sits in a barrel for a long time, like chlorine does in water?

Thanks for that info. I think it cost very little to get a water test and something Im really thinking I will do.

1/28/2010 10:20:16 AM

Ohio

and now that I think about it, well water or spring water should benefit your plants more, almost like using a light fertilizer, or even better,the water would be more pure then regular city water that comes straight from the tap.

Water like this just might help someone gain that extra pound or two,,,, it has to keep your plants more healthier, right?

1/28/2010 10:30:03 AM

Petrolia,Ontario. Canada

i used my well water last year and went from 559 in 08 to 843 in 09 I cant say if the water had anything to due with it. I know it would be better then the tap water, I will get a water test done to make sure it is in good shape.

Lonnie

1/28/2010 11:33:16 AM

Ohio

Lonnie,
just seen this post from Jerry Rose,

pumpkin kid huntsburg,ohio
i normally chlorinate my water after i put it in a tank out of my pond.I try to keep it at atleast 2 parts per million for 2 hours to kill anything then let it sit few more hours to gas off but have put it on quicker with no ill effects.Jerry
1/27/2010 4:37:57 PM
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so it might not be a bad idea to have a little chlorine to kill off some of the bad stuff that might be in your water,,,,but will it kill off some of the good stuff off ?,,,by the looks of Jerrys pumpkins it doesnt seem to be the case.

1/29/2010 6:21:11 AM

Bethlehem CT

Hey Guys I am thinking that water from a well or spring is just about as good as you can get. The water has been cleaned by biological organisms in the soil as it percolates through. Pond water has a lot more stuff in it that could cause problems. Water from a river is better (than pond) as the water starts to move, it becomes oxygenated and more organisms start to clean it up.

1/29/2010 8:37:45 AM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

I would suggest getting any water tested, be it a spring or a well.
2 things that need to be addressed are disolved solids (particulated released by the groung during percolation)
The dissolved solids in my well are very high, If we water plants with our water, the plants die. (very high salt content)
Next is the Ph of the water, generally, it should be reasonably close to your ground PH, but, it could also spike either way, This could be a good thing.
Pond water is more stable (generally run off water, rain, snow melt) than an active stream, because of the source, many things can happen up stream.
With well water or spring water, it would be bennificial to use a holding tank, especially to warm the water.

1/29/2010 9:05:07 AM

Petrolia,Ontario. Canada

thanks alot for your replies I am planning on having a holding tank here to warm water throughout the day and I am going to paint it black

thanks again lonnie

1/29/2010 9:40:41 AM

Ennismore, Ontario

I water from a lake next door to me. I can leave it in a clear plastic tank for 2 weeks with no algea appearing. Should i get it tested? I think this would be classifed as soft water if that makes a differance.

2/6/2010 9:17:09 PM