I'm curious about the safety of eating vegetables grown with non-potable water. I have a community garden where we use water from a creek, which gets stored in a large transparent container. The water isn't in the best condition—there's visible mold and sludge forming inside, and it's been sitting there since last year. I typically grow flowers for the community, but I'm unsure if it's safe to use this water for growing veggies. Can I use it, and if so, how long should I wait after watering before harvesting? Or should I not use this water at all?
3 Answers
Honestly, the soil probably has more fungi and bacteria than what you see growing in the water. Just rinsing your produce in clean water should do the trick. If you're really worried, test the water or soil for contaminants, but I think your plants will be fine. Just avoid watering directly on the veggies when you can!
You can definitely control the growth in your water container if it’s getting too dirty. Just remember, healthy soil usually keeps things balanced, and most harmful stuff doesn’t end up in the edible parts of the plants. Just wash your produce before you eat it.
I get that, but the head of the garden isn't open to suggestions about cleaning the tank. What do I do in that case?
I've used non-potable water from wells for growing food, and I wouldn't hesitate to use creek water if it means feeding my garden. Just be sure to wash your veggies well before eating them!
Thanks for the reassurance! I'll make sure to wash everything thoroughly.
Good point! Maybe I just need to manage how I water.