Gungy water in water butt

tenzing

Hope this is in the right place, if not please redirect me. We have just put up a new shed, with felting on roof, and fixed guttering and waterbutt to it. With all the rain we've had the waterbutt is now full, but the water smells disgusting and there's jelly-like floaty stuff on top. Is this because of the chemicals in the roofing felt or .... ? Anyone any experience of this or any ideas? Thanks

penrhyn

A very small amount of Jeyes fluid in the water will keep it fresh. The precise amount to use is on the tin.
I'd skim off the alien life forms first.
By the way if you haven't got a lid on the water butt fit one.

Ken68

Plastic butts ferment the water. Doesn't happen with metal tanks.

Seakay

Biotal Water Butt Refresh is good, details here:

http://www.greengardenshop.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=44&osCsid=776d5b5301eab9fe39ca892a99c49519

but I have also seen it in B&Q, Homebase and other garden centres

tenzing

Thanks very much to everyone who's replied. Yes, I do have a lid on the waterbutt and the butt's an old one I moved from the greenhouse, but has been taking water off the shed for only four or five weeks. I've four other waterbutts which come off the house roof and I'm used to them getting a bit green and gungy but this is nothing like that. It's a more chemically stomach-turning smell, which makes me wonder whether it's from the shed roofing felt - perhaps from the glue or whatever they use to make it?

gromituk

Ken68 wrote:

Plastic butts ferment the water. Doesn't happen with metal tanks.

First time I've heard that theory - what's the explanation?

Ken68

gromituk wrote:

First time I've heard that theory - what's the explanation?

No really sure, Grom, but this plastic butt replaced a metal tank, and never did run clear and sweet as its predecessor.
Bound to be on the net, and read recently that plastic fittings are not recommended for solar panels because of the 'stagnation point'.
Could be the glue, Tenzing, or a dead bird. Wait and see.

gromituk

That water butt looks rather circumspect!

I think the stagnation point of solar panels is the temperature they reach when there is no water flowing through them - not to do with the water going yucky, but the fittings melting.

Ken68

Bad picture Grom, tis on a conservatory roof, open to sun most of the day. Previously my neighbour was able to run clear water from a metal tank , I think for kitchen use .

gromituk

Well it seems odd that a metal tank would keep the water fresh, unless something is being leached from the metal which kills bacteria. Metal would exclude light, but so would a water butt, so that isn't it.

Ken68

Yes Grom, funny that, could it be the antiseptic qualities, as when copper is recommended for hot water cylinders.