I recently moved my new residence has high ph hard city water that stains the porcelain sink and smells like chlorine. I no longer have access to well water I’ve been using for years . I use quality soil with top dressing. I’m thinking of avoiding expensive filters by doing a 50/50 mix of my city water with rain water and if rain water is not available thinking of 50/50 mix of distilled water with tap . If rain water is plentiful that’s what I’ll use but during dry seasons I’m going to have to dilute my tap water . Anybody have any thoughts on mixing city water with distilled water . This is new territory for me as I’ve always had access to good water
7 Likes
Does your city publish water data?
If so check it out.
Mine does and it’s a very useful source of information.
5 Likes
Yes I lazily looked into it , chloramine, chlorine and a bunch of other things , it’s really bad water it literally smells like the public pool after shock treatment and taste like chemicals. My life is really busy so I know my comment comes off as lazy which it is I’ll admit It is , I fiqured just diluting would be best answer vs spending time figuring out what’s in the water , I’ve already done a trial run with a proven cutting from friend and the cutting just said NOPE which could be from a number of things but the water is definitely toxic it taste toxic smells of chemicals from as far away as sitting in living room . I calibrated a junk ph pen then tested I got 9.8 but who knows if that’s correct and that was with fresh cold water. I’m just thinking distilled water would be ok to dilute the tap … I dont know never done it , money is tight so filter is out of question untill after holidays, maybee lake water when it doesn’t rain . I’ve been on easy mode good well water for a while
1 Like
A pH of 10 is almost the same as ammonia. That can’t be right.
I submit to you that it’s more work to mix different water sources.
I wouldn’t trust your pen. Get some drops or strips. That will at least get you close.
Chlorine chloramine, well, I don’t worry about that.
8 Likes
How bout an RV filter?
4 Likes
City rainwater isn’t great either, soot brake dust and rubber etc. tap water is probably fine. I’ve never had a problem with chlorine, even with dwc.
I’m guessing there is an issue with the calibration of your pen or it’s a dud, 9.8 would be burning holes in stuff lol.
3 Likes
Money is tight I’m on a $50 week gas and food allowance till January moving drained the account so I got about 3.5 cubic feet of soil half tub of amendments and access to free cuttings of plant I familiar with so I wont be buying anything for a while . I just know this city water smells toxic makes me a little nauseous after drinking and killed a cutting that I’ve grown multiple times using exact same method except now im on city water , it going to rain next week so I’ll collect water and give it another try if it dies after rain water is gone kll know I’m screwed or I will have to share my bottle water with plants . My local pharmacy has 1 gallon distilled water in medical section $3 was thinking I could just dilute tap water I dont know never tried. The local water company recommends filtering water before drinking on web sight but money is tight for now all extra money goes to kids I got my $50 a week to eat/ drive with
It’s bad I scrubbed the white porcelain sink with compound and emery pad and three weeks later it was stained yellow again .
My FIL is on well water that stinks of sulphur to the point that taking a shower in it is gross and it stains the toilets.
He grows just fine.
3 Likes
Rainwater would probably be the easiest solution here as long as the city isn’t so bad that you have acid rain or something weird like that. Otherwise RO system + cal mag with ph testing strips and ph up/down.
2 Likes
Even if you have a boil order in your city, that water can still be used for plants.
I personally wouldn’t worry about it unless the plants absolutely wig-out from using it. Run a grow, you’ll know by mid veg if they’re liking the water.
2 Likes
Powdered vitamin-c can be a good ph-reducer and it’s cheap.
The “pool water” smell is probably chloramines.
In pools, chloramines are created when ammonia introduced with swimmers bodies bonds with chlorine, locking the chlorine up.
That’s the “pool smell.” It’s a sign the chlorine has really had to do some work there. 
In water utilities they use a different kind of chloramine to sanitize. Because chloramine doesn’t outgas, many water utilities make use of it liberally.
2 Likes
Not having access to air pump at the moment, do u think leaving the water sit and stirring on occasion would help with chlorine? Maybe keep it in fridge so it stays fresh .
2 Likes
Yes. Leaving the water in an open container for 24-48 hours will outgas any chlorine, but not chloramine.
Vitamin-c will also help to neutralize chlorine.
5 Likes
The RV filter I got came in a pack of 2. Shoot me an addy and I’ll send you the extra one.
7 Likes
Thanks for the offer I dont want to take your supplies, thoughts and suggestions is enough help but thanku for the offer
2 Likes
you can get it for just over $1 at walmart, krogers, dollar genereal, family dollar, etc. it’s by the drinking water. it’s all i drink. used to be just under $1 but covid…
Ascorbic acid powder will neutralize chlorine and chloramine. Don’t remember the application rates, but they’re out there. Also, do you have any water kiosks around you? There are ones that cost $1 to fill a five-gallon jug of RO water. There are also the Primo stations that are more in the $2.50-$3.00 range for five gallons of RO water.
3 Likes
I was informed of a natural spring about 15 minutes outside the city that is publicly owned anybody can take the water, it apparently flows cold water year round and people use it for drinking water … not sure if thats smart but I’m going to check it out , also in my childish rants about how bad the water is to my neighbors I was told the water in my area is transported by a 100 plus year old 6 ft diameter wooden pipe that is buried in natural clay layer in the ground 40 ft deep , they ran a scope/camera into the pipe for inspection it’s now 2.5 ft diameter because of sediments collecting on the inner walls . This pipe runs under buildings homes industrial land and was suppose to be replaced a long time ago but apparently the funds are not available for such a huge project.
I guess next question would be how long will the water be good for stored at my house , I have a 22 gallon water container I can use . I heard water last longer if kept cold or air pump .