Using River Water for Growing

So I am working my way toward a completely organic grow including ROLS and natural nutrient AACT feeding. One major consideration is my source of water. My primary water source is city water from the tap but it contains chloramines which are harmful to the micros and pretty difficult to remove. Buying water is not an option. I do however have access to a fairly large river and am thinking this could be the solution. Access is secluded so no worries about nosy people when I am filling up my 5gal buckets (probably 4-5 in a haul).

The only thing I can think of that might be a negative are the critters that I might pick up like insect larvae, eggs, etc. Should I be concerned about adding these to my soil less mix? Will some of my teas take care of them? Do you think this is even an issue? Other considerations? Thoughts?

I would be concerned about the pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and whatever else has been dumped in the water. But overall, you should be OK. Guerilla growers use all sorts of sketchy water sources and their plants still continue to grow.

I would test the water as much as you could.

OR, you could get a 5 gallon jug and fill it up at those machines in front of grocery stores and gas stations. But you did say no to buying water so...give it a try. But my thought is if your city water sucks, the shit in the city water runs off into the river so the river water might not be much better. But again, it won't hurt to try most likely.

yup. i'd be far more worried about industrial contaminants than insect larvae or something of that nature.

last time I checked, home depot offered free water test packets for homeowners...maybe call your local store and ask them. thats a nice free way to check your water for contaminants. last time I was there I snatched like 5 packets...got a bunch of different water sources to test! lol. I want to know if my hose is leaching into my veggie garden...

Thanks guys. Not an industrial are but point taken on contaminants. What do you think about spring-fed pond water (local ponds are 30-200 sq/acres)?

Are there any fish in the water? If so what kind? If there are trout or salmon it's plenty clean and i'd go for it. Perch, crappies not so much. Trout need clean oxygenated water to survive. I use water from brooks growing outside with small trout in it and have no issues. In fact, the plants love it.

Have the water tested...!!
then IF you can use it... always run it thru a fine filter!!!!

LZ - I will have the water tested once I narrow down sources, but first narrowing down the sources. Good suggestion on the filtering.

zack - There are a variety of fish in the various ponds. Some are warm water with bass/perch/panfish some are cold water trout ponds and others are two tier fisheries. The river I originally cited has a wide range of fish including bass, walleye, trout, smelt salmon, etc.

Id agree have river water tested, if it doesn't have runoff with fertilizers pesticides, etc. And checks out clean id use it. Or use a carbon filtration setup for tap to get chlorine and cloramines out. Not to hard. Also letting it sit for day or more will help it dissipate before watering.

Carbon filters aren't that expensive, you will most likely need a dual carbon filter to ensure enough contact time to get the chloramine out. But if you don't have the resources you don't have em. If there are fish in the water and plants growing around it theoretically it isn't completely toxic. Use what ya got, maybe test a few different sources for TDS and Ph if that is all you can test for and see what is best for you.

I feel for ya with the water man. My water during summer can come out @ over 600ppm. I can't water some plants with it because they will burn, curl up, and die. And they expect me to drink this shit...

yankeegreen said:

LZ - I will have the water tested once I narrow down sources, but first narrowing down the sources. Good suggestion on the filtering.

zack - There are a variety of fish in the various ponds. Some are warm water with bass/perch/panfish some are cold water trout ponds and others are two tier fisheries. The river I originally cited has a wide range of fish including bass, walleye, trout, smelt salmon, etc.

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If there's trout and salmon go for it. People overthink too much! It's a plant. Not a bad idea to have it tested to make sure there's nothing too funky in it.

Thanks for the responses guys. Just checked online and there is a not-for-profit group that monitors the river. Will follow up with them to see if I can get some hard numbers on TDS, bacteria, heavy metals, etc.