> Boiling water concentrates the minerals and crap contained within it, stuff
> that won't evaporate. Your very method of watering may be the problem. Try
> _not_ boiling it, or if you do, filter it afterwards...
I wouldn't have said that boiling was all that bad! It depends what
is in the water to begin with, and I'd hope he's not boiling it
enough to reduce the volume and concentrate things significantly.
Here in Cambridge, England, the tap water has quite a high pH
(alkali). This is due to 'temporary hardness' or bicarbonates.
Boiling for a few minutes drives off carbon dioxide and leaves
insoluble carbonates which sink to the bottom (or fur up your
kettle), and the pH drops to more satisfactory neutral or acid
levels.
I do this to water I'm going to brew beer with, only using it on the
CP if the rainwater runs out. I can only suggest a bigger water butt
for rainwater collecting (or less CP). I know that people in more
rainless climates have to rely on buying water, or reverse osmosis
units though.
-- Clarke Brunt (clarke@brunt.demon.co.uk)