Chlorine in the garden

I can’t afford this.  My microbes will have to evolve or fail.  I feel like my beds are OK in general...

Thank you, OG. Normally, I don't get excited about having chlorinated water. My city water is periodically chlorinated (wells on a rotating basis). During the summer I supplement water the beds with the hose wand. I timed filling a 5-gal bucket and I can cover the beds with 45-50 gallons per day. The first or second filter would work for the garden hose! And, still be affordable! I may try to save more microbes by trying one.

Rightly or wrongly I don't worry about chloramine in our city water. My plants seem to be ok. I don't have to water often since we get a pretty decent amount of rain.

I just found this on the City of Ottawa's website:

"Is it okay to use chloraminated water on plants, vegetables and fruit trees?

Yes. The small amount of chloramine present in the water should not affect plants of any type. Beneficial bacteria are generally protected by the soil in which they live."

It's interesting that last year was the first year that I never had to water my garden.  We had plenty of chlorine-free rain.  But it was one of the lousiest years for production.  Too much rain.

Now a major question, based on a report of municipal drinking water N. Foweri contamination being confirmed in Louisiana!

Could chloramine be opening the door to naegleria foweri?!

RJARPCGP wrote:Now a major question, based on a report of municipal drinking water N. Foweri contamination being confirmed in Louisiana!

Could chloramine be opening the door to naegleria foweri?!

Wasn't that several years ago, back in 2012 or something?  Or, has there been a new discovery?  I remember back then they did a "chlorine burn" to clear the water of the ameba, but that is about all I remember about it.

OhioGardener wrote:

Wasn't that several years ago, back in 2012 or something?  Or, has there been a new discovery?  I remember back then they did a "chlorine burn" to clear the water of the ameba, but that is about all I remember about it.

That report alone, if not also along with a report of that ameba being found in the north, makes me trust non-ocean water less and less!

I now can't even trust the Connecticut river! (at least without nose plugs!)

Chlorine is unstable so is mixed with sodium hydroxide (lye) to make the stable solution called sodium hypochlorite which is what water treatment plants use to disinfect drinking water at the plant and keep it disinfected in the distribution pipes. Home plumbing uses either galvanized iron or copper pipes since the zinc coating and copper will also disinfect the water as it sits in the pipes. 
Sometimes water suppliers will issue warnings to boil their water after they find a breach in their distribution lines that allows groundwater to enter. That due to dead organic material in the groundwater which will rapidly degrade the sodium hypochlorite. You should be able to eliminate the chlorine in city water by pouring it into a container that's full of organic compost and has a hole or tap at the bottom where it can drain out. My mother made one 60 years ago by using an old beat up aluminum ice chest that had a sponge by the drain to serve as a filter. She and our neighbor used the water for their house plants with good results. 

Bill

Hi Dirtywerk. Welcome from Atlanta, GA! Glad you've joined us...

Can you tell us about your garden, hopes, & dreams?

Hi Dirtywerk

Hi, Dirtywerk, thanks for the input!  

I was considering building a few raised gardens beds when I joined in January of 2013 when I was recovering from toxic mold infestations yet wasn't able to engage in physical labor for another 4 years. By then I had my house up for sale so didn't bother building those because raised bed gardens often are unwanted features in backyards that prospective buyers quibble about.

 Sold the house in Sept of 2017 to end up living in a friend's junky RV trailer in the middle of a junkyard on top of an iron hill. I could have raised beds up here if those are enclosed with chain link fencing with the bottoms fastened to the lumber to keep out the feral hogs that roam the woods surrounding the property. 

 Bill

dirtywerk wrote:I was considering building a few raised gardens beds when I joined in January of 2013 when I was recovering from toxic mold infestations yet wasn't able to engage in physical labor for another 4 years. By then I had my house up for sale so didn't bother building those because raised bed gardens often are unwanted features in backyards that prospective buyers quibble about.

 Sold the house in Sept of 2017 to end up living in a friend's junky RV trailer in the middle of a junkyard on top of an iron hill. I could have raised beds up here if those are enclosed with chain link fencing with the bottoms fastened to the lumber to keep out the feral hogs that roam the woods surrounding the property. 

 Bill

Dude, crazy!  Do you have any options on the horizon?  You would love it, even small scale.

This is what I use. I attach it to the end of my hose and then attach the wand to it. I get it on Amazon. I buy the multi-pack and so they cost $10 a piece and I use a fresh one every year. I store it in the veggie bin of the fridge between waterings.

CapeCoddess wrote:This is what I use. I attach it to the end of my hose and then attach the wand to it. I get it on Amazon. I buy the multi-pack and so they cost $10 a piece and I use a fresh one every year. I store it in the veggie bin of the fridge between waterings.

Oh wow!  Thanks CC!  

'welcome. 
Now if they would just make one that heated the water. Our town water is frigid all year round.

Hey, maybe that's my August Avatar... I've often doused myself with the hose after exercising and then watering the garden.

Same here, but i love it .  I drink from the hose...lol!