Subject: Re: Can we use well water for plants

From: [email-masked] (Lyle Tuttle)
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 22:00:48 MST

In article <[email-masked]> [email-masked] (Alan Johnson) writes:
>From: [email-masked] (Alan Johnson)
>Subject: Can we use well water for plants
>Date: Thu, 08 Jun 1995 19:39:19 GMT

>       Everything  is getting pretty dry around here,  no  rain for
>weeks. We have a 500 gallon rain barrel but that  is  empty  now.
>With   the   new plants in the flower beds we were wondering if we can
>use our well water for occasional  watering  of  plants.  We  were
>advised  by  the  water testing company  not  to  use our water for
>plants, however we are thinking that may be 'once and a while' use of
>our water would  be  better   than   letting  the plants  die.  If  we
>do use our well water, will future rain wash any salts from the soil?
>Should be absolutely not use or well water or is it OK in  an
>emergency?

>Water test:

>PH = 8.4
>Sodium = 470 mg/L
>Bicarbonate = 1098 mg/L

WOW! That is tough water.  For "once-in-a-while' outdoor watering, you should 
be ok.  I *think* what the water testing company meant was, "don't use this 
water to water your indoor plants; they are 'trapped' in a pot; don't get rain 
to flush the mineral salts down and free up the roots tips osmosis process."

In other words, the plant root takes in water through the "skin", by osmosis; 
if the mineral content in the soil is too high, they will form a "sheath" 
around the root tip, preventing water and nutrients to be taken in by the 
plant, 'stunting' its growth.

You might want to go to the water FAQ at:

http://www.siouxlan.com/water/faq.html

Look for the links to other pages; some go directly to irrigation problems as 
you ask about.

Lyle Tuttle
[email-masked]