Thread: Tap water not potable?

Hello all,

New to growing, and I have a question I haven't really seen addressed anywhere. I live in a city/country where the tap water generally isn't potable. I don't think it'll kill anyone, but due to health risks everyone either purchases bottled/distilled water, or boils it first (I boil it). Mainly from the habit of giving my cats the same water I drink, I started off giving my plants my pre-boiled drinking water. But then it occurred to me that the biologies of plants and animals are different animals. Any thoughts?

I still mean to get pH strips, and have found enough information about that aspect. I read some posts to the effect that tap water is preferable to pure distilled water (due to minerals?), but I'm assuming those posts were coming from places with comparatively clean water supply. I'm pretty certain that people here use tap water for random house/garden plants, but of course they're considerably less invested in those than I am in these guys.

Id say because its not potable, it most likely has no chlorine in it which is used to kill bacteria and harmful minerals. It doesn't mean it isn't good for your plants. I bet its probably better for em. Huge stadiums and Golf Courses use non-potable water to water their huge playing fields, and they have some of the greenest grass I have ever seen. If using non potable water, Id HIGHLY suggest purchasing a good TDS/ECM meter. This will tell you how many Total Dissolved Solids and the Electrical Current of your water. Something beneficial for you, your animals, and your plants.

If not purchasing the Meter, leave it unboiled and use it like normal.