My Tap Water - 350 PPM - OK to use?

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Kushfan

Well-Known Member
I have been lugging 5 gallon jugs of RO water from the water store for a year now, and wondering if this is necessary?

I am on the fence on buying a hydro-logic stealth ro100 setup or just using de-chlorinated tap. I use coco in a drip to waste system, using Heavy 16 nutrients.

My tap water ppm is around 350-375 with a ph of 9. I have a call in with the city and am awaiting my water assessment report.
 
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PaxEtBonum

Member
What? Your tap water is ph 9? That is f-ing crazy. First thing I'd do is ask to check your neighbor's ph (they won't think anything is up because you're just concerned with water quality at this point). You'll be using so much ph down that it will hardly be saving you any money. Go find a lake or a stream nearby and test it for ph. If it's more like 7, I'd say just fill your jugs up there. PH 9? Jesus. Are you sure your ph meter is reading correctly. I've heard that some parts of the country it can be higher, and that the average is like 8, but nine just sounds ridiculous to me.

See what the ph is in a neighboring city too, one with a different water treatment operation. It sounds like your water management team is drunk. I wouldn't even drink water with a ph of 9, let alone start watering with it.
 
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Kushfan

Well-Known Member
PaxEtBonum said:
What? Your tap water is ph 9? That is f-ing crazy. First thing I'd do is ask to check your neighbor's ph (they won't think anything is up because you're just concerned with water quality at this point). You'll be using so much ph down that it will hardly be saving you any money. Go find a lake or a stream nearby and test it for ph. If it's more like 7, I'd say just fill your jugs up there. PH 9? Jesus. Are you sure your ph meter is reading correctly. I've heard that some parts of the country it can be higher, and that the average is like 8, but nine just sounds ridiculous to me.

See what the ph is in a neighboring city too, one with a different water treatment operation. It sounds like your water management team is drunk. I wouldn't even drink water with a ph of 9, let alone start watering with it.
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I live in an urban area, no lakes or streams nearby. One of the additives of my nutrient line plus the bases brings the ph down to a perfect level, no matter what water I use, so that's not really an issue.

The ro water I buy is only 25 cents per gallon and I only use 10-15 gallons a week so it's not really a money issue, more of an inconvenience.
 
bioWheel

bioWheel

Well-Known Member
I'd say your tap is probably OK for plants but you may die if you drink it. I checked your bio but didn't see you're from a third-world country? What gives?
 
inhaleindica

inhaleindica

Well-Known Member
My tap water is almost like yours, but my ph is worse. Around the 10s. I have used de-chlorinated water before. It grew fine, however it was hard to find the right nute balance using tap water. I got the hydro logic 200. I can say I am a happy that I got it. I drink that water, dogs, house plants and my fish tank gets RO water. In the long run I already saved money.
 
inhaleindica

inhaleindica

Well-Known Member
bioWheel said:
I'd say your tap is probably OK for plants but you may die if you drink it. I checked your bio but didn't see you're from a third-world country? What gives?
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Southern Cali has horrible tap water. You can drink that tap water just fine. A human shouldn't drink any tap water that is 500 ppm or higher.
 
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Kushfan

Well-Known Member
inhaleindica said:
My tap water is almost like yours, but my ph is worse. Around the 10s. I have used de-chlorinated water before. It grew fine, however it was hard to find the right nute balance using tap water. I got the hydro logic 200. I can say I am a happy that I got it. I drink that water, dogs, house plants and my fish tank gets RO water. In the long run I already saved money.
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Sounds good. I am leaning towards the ro system and have heard lots of good things about the hydro logic systems. My pets and family being able to drink it is definitely a plus.
 
JohnnySocko

JohnnySocko

Active Member
I was recently told the assorted Munies around the USA are now actually adding some sort of shit that makes the pH above 9ish (I forget what the hell it is, as I didnb't get past the part about 9.0 pH)...I know my muny totally fucks our water up with additives...anyway; my PH is over 9 and my ppms are over 600; sometimes RO is the only way to go.....just remember ppm's is a general thing: could be calcium, could be iron, could be frog turds...so dissolved solids is relevant to what is causing it.....
 
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