New home, new water source

[BigBagOfBuds]

Hey BudBuilders, I've got some plans to move and I've had the water tested. I'm used to growing on municipal water so this will be my first well water experience.

I have the following test results but looking for some insight into what the best path forward is. The thing I see is that the sodium is quite high which I think will be an issue due to the lower calcium and magnesium combined with the higher carbonates.

I've looked into calculating the sodium absorption ratio but haven't really figured out if the numbers I'm getting are correct.

Please take a look and let me know what you think some possible plans could be. I mostly grow in soilless medium, sometimes organic, sometimes synthetic. I also hope to be able to use this water on the outdoor garden. Worst case scenario I splurge for an RO system but I'm worried about how to water a large outdoor garden efficiently, indoors the RO should be fine as the daily consumption is usually lower than 5 gallons.

 

[Rootsruler]

Does it rain much in your area? If so, how about an RO system for indoors and a rain water collection system for outdoors? RWC systems are pretty cheap and are not labor intensive.

In the next month or so I plan on installing an RWC system at the house. I'm going to use two 250 gallon totes stacked on top of each other with a flush first system installed as most of the collection will come off the roof of the house.

 

[CannaGranny]

Why would well water contain fluoride?

 

[Rootsruler]

Why would well water contain fluoride?

Beavers brushing their teeth.........

 

[CannaGranny]

Well, I’m glad to know they are not brushing their teeth in mine!

 

[BigBagOfBuds]

Does it rain much in your area? If so, how about an RO system for indoors and a rain water collection system for outdoors? RWC systems are pretty cheap and are not labor intensive.

In the next month or so I plan on installing an RWC system at the house. I'm going to use two 250 gallon totes stacked on top of each other with a flush first system installed as most of the collection will come off the roof of the house.

I did think about rainwater capture, we get on average 77mm (3 inches) per month in the growing season. I'm not sure if that will be sufficient but definitely better than trying to do large scale RO hahaha. Ill have to look deeper into the possibilities there. Thanks!

Why would well water contain fluoride?

It surprised me too! Probably as much as the high sodium compared to the low calcium and magnesium. Also some silica in there too, don't think I would ever have to supplement that again. It must be the characteristics of the rock, a super tiny bit of uranium in there too hahaha.

I'm definitely going to look more into rainwater capture and maybe whole home RO. I think I may be too hopeful in thinking it might be possible to use this water, I'll probably reach out to the agriculture ministry to see what they think of the water for use on fruit and vegetables, the planned garden and orchard are almost 2 acres.

 

[CannaGranny]

Mine for sure has no fluoride nor sodium. Are you sure they didn’t get your sample mixed with someone else’s? Sodium and fluoride both are in a treated supply.
My well tests out as mineral water. It’s full of calcium. My plants love it.

 

[Rootsruler]

I did think about rainwater capture, we get on average 77mm (3 inches) per month in the growing season. I'm not sure if that will be sufficient but definitely better than trying to do large scale RO hahaha. Ill have to look deeper into the possibilities there. Thanks!

It surprised me too! Probably as much as the high sodium compared to the low calcium and magnesium. Also some silica in there too, don't think I would ever have to supplement that again. It must be the characteristics of the rock, a super tiny bit of uranium in there too hahaha.

I'm definitely going to look more into rainwater capture and maybe whole home RO. I think I may be too hopeful in thinking it might be possible to use this water, I'll probably reach out to the agriculture ministry to see what they think of the water for use on fruit and vegetables, the planned garden and orchard are almost 2 acres.

I've done some pretty extensive research into it so if you have any questions I can probably answer them for you.

 

[BigBagOfBuds]

Mine for sure has no fluoride nor sodium. Are you sure they didn’t get your sample mixed with someone else’s? Sodium and fluoride both are in a treated supply.
My well tests out as mineral water. It’s full of calcium. My plants love it.

Im not sure, but I also think its odd to see high sodium with only a touch of chlorine, and a tiny bit of potassium. I don't recall seeing a water softener system. I'm going to do some basic tests when we take possession to see if things reasonably line up, if they don't I'll get it re-tested and Ill get the 2nd well tested as well just to get two birds with one charge for the technician to come out. I would assume the 2nd well is similar and was hoping for cleaner water when just testing the one hahaha

I've done some pretty extensive research into it so if you have any questions I can probably answer them for you.

I will definitely reach out once I have more details, there is a stable and barn as well as the house which will likely be sufficient area for capture, but I'll have to measure once I move in. Likely won't be setting up any water capture until next Spring.

 

[steamroller]

Why would well water contain fluoride?

I was more than surprised to find this when I searched~!
https://truthaboutfluoride.com/does-well-water-have-fluoride/

 

[MDK]

My well is all minerals, calcium magnesium lots of iron. I'm above the "drinkable recommendation" of 400 or less ppm...I sit around 440 ppm. Have had the water tested though and it's all minerals so it can be drank, I think they just want you to basically make sure it isn't bad bacteria or something pushing it up past that 400ppm ideal range for drinking. As CG said, plants love it. Thinking my indoor plants may start getting it also.

I too would be weary of the odd chemicals in your test results.

 

[CannaGranny]

I was more than surprised to find this when I searched~!
https://truthaboutfluoride.com/does-well-water-have-fluoride/

I’m shocked! Mine actually reports no sodium nor fluoride. I also know that this permeates through limestone. Wow! Learn something new every day!

 

[BigBagOfBuds]

Im going to call the lab that did the analysis to see if I can get them to double check the sodium reported makes sense.

I have a suspicion that there is a typo for the following reasons:
1. I would prefer there is a typo hahaha
2. The value is "118." the random decimal place looks like a typo
3. The ratio of sodium to chloride doesn't make sense at 10 to 1
4. 11.8 sodium would make more sense with 11.2 chloride
5. 11.8 ppm sodium would be workable for outdoors

 

[SiamSam]

My well is all minerals, calcium magnesium lots of iron. I'm above the "drinkable recommendation" of 400 or less ppm...I sit around 440 ppm. Have had the water tested though and it's all minerals so it can be drank, I think they just want you to basically make sure it isn't bad bacteria or something pushing it up past that 400ppm ideal range for drinking. As CG said, plants love it. Thinking my indoor plants may start getting it also.

I too would be weary of the odd chemicals in your test results.

LSD

 

[Rootsruler]

Im not sure, but I also think its odd to see high sodium with only a touch of chlorine, and a tiny bit of potassium. I don't recall seeing a water softener system. I'm going to do some basic tests when we take possession to see if things reasonably line up, if they don't I'll get it re-tested and Ill get the 2nd well tested as well just to get two birds with one charge for the technician to come out. I would assume the 2nd well is similar and was hoping for cleaner water when just testing the one hahaha

I will definitely reach out once I have more details, there is a stable and barn as well as the house which will likely be sufficient area for capture, but I'll have to measure once I move in. Likely won't be setting up any water capture until next Spring.

Prepper sites have good info on RWC too.

 

[Rootsruler]

I wouldn't do a whole home RO unless you have high calcium in your well or someone has sensitive skin in the family. I'd setup RO for drinking, ice maker and cooking only.

RO uses A LOT of water. The most efficient systems will do a 2 - 1 ratio meaning for every gallon of RO your going to dump 2 gals of "brine". No biggie in a muni system other than volume. Not sure how big a well you have but a whole house will suck your well dry if you're not careful and plan accordingly.

 

[BigBagOfBuds]

I wouldn't do a whole home RO unless you have high calcium in your well or someone has sensitive skin in the family. I'd setup RO for drinking, ice maker and cooking only.

RO uses A LOT of water. The most efficient systems will do a 2 - 1 ratio meaning for every gallon of RO your going to dump 2 gals of "brine". No biggie in a muni system other than volume. Not sure how big a well you have but a whole house will suck your well dry if you're not careful and plan accordingly.

Good point on making sure things are sized correctly! Wouldn't want to spend the money and then euchre myself with a dry well

 

[Rootsruler]

Good point on making sure things are sized correctly! Wouldn't want to spend the money and then euchre myself with a dry well