tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post2583286652656814671..comments2023-09-29T18:37:14.377+10:00Comments on Eight Acres: Basic water quality testingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-71610890520303322962014-11-24T05:35:44.231+10:002014-11-24T05:35:44.231+10:00This is interesting to read and learn about! Anoth...This is interesting to read and learn about! Another reason I love reading your blog, it really offers a different perspective in a different country. In the US, many states require water testing at before the purchase or closing of a home. I live in New Hampshire, which is known for poor quality ground water (a local college actually just received a multi-million dollar grant for water testing around the state). <br />Although water quality testing isn't required in our state (many voters aren't keen on high regulation here), it's common practice - along with a multitude of other inspections before purchasing a house. A lot of this became even more common practice during the housing bust, when many Americans had their homes taken from banks due to defaulting on their mortgage - some of these home owners would sabotage the property or home by pouring cement down drains, etc. It doesn't happen as much now, but home inspections have really become common practice because of it. <br />We took a water sample from the well before we closed on the home and sent it for a variety of testing to be done (check for arsenic, etc.) and it cost about $80 total. The previous owners also had a water filtration system/water softener installed in the home (cost them around $2000), so we did really luck out with the water quality.Farmbrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13317731273042165803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-14518323845733356652014-11-22T07:03:02.132+10:002014-11-22T07:03:02.132+10:00What do you think is causing the saline water? Is ...What do you think is causing the saline water? Is it maybe because there aren't enough trees to suppress the saline layer of the water table? Or do you think its the acid rain you speak of?<br /><br />There isn't much you can do about acid rain, but there are some plants which can help you deal with the saline, if its in the soil. I've just successfully tried old-man saltbush and its very hardy, and from what I read, can be grown in salty areas. Its used as a fodder plant for livestock, but can become too salty if the soil is, so best as a forage plant, not in isolation to making other feed available. <br /><br />As you would know, Peter Andrews has a lot to say about soil hydrology and how salt can move to the edge of a damn, by the sheer weight of the water. Just wondering if something "upstream" is happening to push the salt into your damn?<br /><br />We got a whopper of a storm a few days ago, and the back gully was filled. Some of the buffers we put in (dead lantana branches) helped to slow the water and there wasn't any erosion - we got quite a lot of silt dropped that came in though. I could see the water travelling rapidly as it entered the property and then speed up again, once it left. That's about the only "water" we have on the property. We have one small pond that fills with enough rain and becomes a watering hole for the native animals. <br /><br />This particular looong dry spell though, before the rain came, I have been putting water out for the birds in a bowl and even the wallabies have been drinking from it. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-22243475376896971992014-11-21T13:35:07.399+10:002014-11-21T13:35:07.399+10:00Gosh what a nightmare, thanks for the tips. I will...Gosh what a nightmare, thanks for the tips. I will be testing our dam water at the new place to make sure its all good, and the rainwater from the tanks too. We were told it is a spring fed dam at our place, with a billabong also. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-14775150406812852032014-11-21T08:23:13.316+10:002014-11-21T08:23:13.316+10:00Thanks so much for writing about this Liz. We are...Thanks so much for writing about this Liz. We are looking around for a rural property and it it would have never occurred to me to have any water holes tested. Ennohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01876558126763637044noreply@blogger.com