[compost_tea] Re: Chlorine in Municipal Water

From: Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:33:45 -0000

Chuck;

Thanks for your report.
Please let me know of your results with molasses.

Tim

--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Chuck Lund <north32nd_at_...> wrote:
>
> From my experience, chlorine works pretty much as advertised, it kills ba=
cteria.  I have seen this under the microscope so am both glad and sur=
prised someone has seen conspicuously different results. Now I wonder why?=
  And will look some more...
>
> I have experimented with lots of filters trying to come up with a satisfa=
ctory way to water the garden and have found the inexpensive charcoal filte=
rs work nearly as well as the very expensive ceramic filters (neither takes=
 out all of the chlorine - but most of it).  The basic problem I found=
 is they are too slow for hand watering and don't last very long either, ev=
en with repeated back washing/flushing. They need to be accurately tested =
after a few hundred gallons or so.  
>
> I tried using chlorine test strips and spa and pool chlorine test kits an=
d found neither accurate enough to effectively test chlorinated municipal w=
ater.  I now use a Hatch pocket colorimeter for chlorine. 
>
> I have also taken water samples from many kinds of sprinklers at various =
distances and flow rates, and spray patterns.  In my experience I foun=
d the sprinklers that seem to dissipate chlorine most effectively are the s=
mall sprinkler heads you can find in hardware stores for use in installing =
your own in ground sprinkler systems.  They have various spray pattern=
 options and put out a fairly fine spray.  They have standard pipe thr=
eads so will fit many ready made sprinklers (or copper or galv fittings)Â=
  I use quick disconnects (for changing spray patterns) and sprinklers fr=
om ground level to one that is six feet tall.  The tall one will effec=
tively spray about a forty foot circle. The fine spray dissipates almost a=
ll of the chlorine, even on the lower ones used for spot watering.  Ev=
aporation could be a problem on the taller ones...
>
> I have tried filtering city water for use in making tea and found it unsa=
tisfactory. I have also aerated the water and found it actually takes a fe=
w days to get rid of enough of the chlorine to make tea, rather than simply=
 running your brewer overnight.  It is easier for me personally to har=
vest and use rainwater.
>
> I have run water through vortex tubes/nozzles used by Boeing in their pai=
nt department but I can not tell for sure if the small amount of chlorine d=
issipated is because of the vortex action or the simple aeration between th=
e end of the nozzle and the bucket. I'll keep working on this one because =
I believe it has great potential.
>
> I am also wondering if an aerating shower head could be an effective (get=
ting rid of chlorine) hose end watering nozzle?
>
> The shower heads with chlorine filters only get rid of about 80% of the c=
hlorine - and that is when they are new.
>
> I have not tried simple molasses but will for sure.
>
> Thanks for the thread,
> Chuck Lund
>
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>  
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>  
>
> --- On Fri, 7/8/11, sue_plezia <sue_plezia_at_...> wrote:
>
> From: sue_plezia <sue_plezia_at_...>
> Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Chlorine in Municipal Water
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, July 8, 2011, 9:49 PM
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> Sorry, I don't notice any chlorine smell, either with or without th=
e filter, but I have a rather poor sense of smell -- it's got to be as conc=
entrated as the chlorine in a swimming pool before I notice it. I did chec=
k with the water company, and we have chlorine, not chloramines. I water w=
ith a hose and will gradually switch to drip, and I have too little space f=
or barrels of water for off gassing chlorine. Summer in the desert means I=
 need enough water to water daily.
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> I leave a few vases of water sitting in my kitchen window, letting the ch=
lorine evaporate, for watering my house plants.
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> Sue
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> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Deight" <deight_at_> wrote:
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> > I took a look at the website for the Chlorgon filter. I would have lik=
ed to
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> > see them present some data , such as, a before and after chlorine read=
ing.
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> > How about a smell test, have you noticed any chlorine smell after the
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> > filter?
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> > Cheers
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> > Deight
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> > From: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] =
On
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> > Behalf Of sue_plezia
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> > Sent: July-08-11 4:38 AM
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> > To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
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> > Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Chlorine in Municipal Water
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> > I recently bought online a Chlorgon filter from Charley's Greenhouse fo=
r
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> > both of my water spigots outside. There isn't a noticeable decrease in =
water
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> > flow. I haven't had it long enough to notice any difference. I've alrea=
dy
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> > been using a chlorine filter on my shower and a water distiller for dri=
nking
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> > water.
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Received on Sun Jul 10 2011 - 14:43:37 EDT

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