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I see there's already a thread on water butts, with some handy notes on legionnaire's - something that was vaguely on my radar but now very much so!
I have 2 connected butts, 150l each which I try to use sparingly to water my tomatoes and strawberries. I've noticed in the last week that the water has a really eggy smell that's pretty unpleasant, and seems to foam when I'm getting towards the end of the watering can.
Other than letting the system drain through and waiting for rain to refill, is there anything I should be done with my butt to stop it smelling so bad?
Can you chuck a bottle of Milton in it?
Jeyes fluid. Instructions on the bottle include how to dilute for water butts but only need a small amount to make them smell fresh again.
No dead birds/rodents in the bottom?
No dead birds/rodents in the bottom
Good advice 👍
Or even dead worms, any creatures that could have been washed in. Description sounds like the smell of my wormery when then all fell I to the bottom juicy bit and drowned. Took me a while to realise, in the meantime they'd all rotted. My god that smell stays with me.
Scrap that, found the other thread.
One of my butts is just as you describe. It was cleaned out prior to the recent downpour that filled it a week ago The water comes off a flat felt roof so I wondered if that had anything to do with it. It is also in the sun.
There are a lot of things that can end up lodged in your butt. It all depends on the state of the pipes feeding in to it.
Remember: basic hygiene, regular flushing and never ever let anyone get in there unless they're suitably qualified and experienced.
Thanks all! Don't think there's much in there other than some scummy water - but mebbe there's a worm or two! I'll hunt out some of the chemicals mentioned 🙂
If it's going on your veg I wouldn't be putting chemicals in. One of main reasons I collect the rain water is because it's better for my plants (particularly house plants) than treated water. I've not found it stays smelly once put onto the soil. Once you've emptied the water out maybe just clean the butt with soapy water and rinse then add some scrunched up netting or chicken wire into the top of the downpipe to catch debris.