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Bleach treated water on lawn?

Muddydogs
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Explorer
Wondering if bleach treated water would be safe to dump on the lawn? I have 2 15 gallon jugs with 1/4 cup bleach each in them and 4 5 gallon jugs with a spot of bleach in them. Not that I'm all worried about water use but it seems a waste to dump 50 gallons plus the rinse water out in the dirt when the grass could use some.

Just picked up the blue 15 gallon jugs and figured I had better disinfect them since I know nothing about the jugs. Decided I might as well do a few 5 gallon jugs why I was at it. Getting my hunting camp gear together.
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15 REPLIES 15

GoPackGo
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Explorer
And if questioned - The dog did it.

Vet_Man
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Explorer
Try a gallon or so on the neighbors lawn. Seems to be getting mixed answers here, then you will know for sure.
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GoPackGo
Explorer
Explorer
If you're worried, leave the caps off the tanks for a couple days and then dump it. Then water it in.

I had tropical fish tanks for many years and periodically added chlorinated city water to the tanks. The drill is to fill a gallon milk jug and then let it sit with the cap off for a few days before adding to the tank (chlorine is tropical fish kryptonite). As was stated above, chlorine breaks down quickly, especially in sunlight.

johntank
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Explorer
Muddydogs wrote:
Wondering if bleach treated water would be safe to dump on the lawn? I have 2 15 gallon jugs with 1/4 cup bleach each in them and 4 5 gallon jugs with a spot of bleach in them. Not that I'm all worried about water use but it seems a waste to dump 50 gallons plus the rinse water out in the dirt when the grass could use some.

Just picked up the blue 15 gallon jugs and figured I had better disinfect them since I know nothing about the jugs. Decided I might as well do a few 5 gallon jugs why I was at it. Getting my hunting camp gear together.


Having used up to a cup of bleach in +-3 gals. your 1/4 cup should not hurt a thing, like you said the grass will like it.

Homer1
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Explorer
Been dumping my water tank sanitize solution which is 1 cup bleach to 15 gallons of water on the lawn for years. Never have had a problem with it. It's Kentucky Blue which is a finicky grass.

WTP-GC
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Explorer
Flapper wrote:
You will have no problem.

Bleach tends to break down fairly quickly, unless it has been very well sealed and not exposed to heat or light. So if yours has been sitting around for a while, it's concentration is already lower. Health departments make restaurants use bleach water for sanitizing tables, counters, etc., and they mandate that it has to be used within a pretty short time after mixing, just due to that issue.

Secondly, the bleach that is present will combine with any dust, dirt and soil in the grass, and dissipate very rapidly. Ask any pool owner about what happens to all his chlorine in a rain storm...

^^X2 on this^^
In a matter of a couple of days, you will lose most chlorine residual. Even if the chlorine was fresh, its been diluted enough to not matter.
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kyle86
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Explorer
I havn't had an issue with 1 cup bleach in 42 gal water.

austinjenna
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I had some nice Albino lawn for a while after sanitizing my water system and dumping it on the lawn LOL. It didnt kill the grass but did turn it white.

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Alabama_Jim
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Explorer
I agree. Not a problem as it is diluted.

Flapper
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Explorer
You will have no problem.

Bleach tends to break down fairly quickly, unless it has been very well sealed and not exposed to heat or light. So if yours has been sitting around for a while, it's concentration is already lower. Health departments make restaurants use bleach water for sanitizing tables, counters, etc., and they mandate that it has to be used within a pretty short time after mixing, just due to that issue.

Secondly, the bleach that is present will combine with any dust, dirt and soil in the grass, and dissipate very rapidly. Ask any pool owner about what happens to all his chlorine in a rain storm...
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csamayfield55x
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Explorer
Yep, do it all the time. No issue

Chris
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coolmom42
Explorer II
Explorer II
It will be fine at those levels.
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Beaker
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I power wash my driveway every year and afterwards spray water/bleach at 60/40 and rinse off. Has never seemed to have bother trees and bushes at the edge although the worms do squiggle. I would water my lawn and go on.

Of course you could always do a test patch.
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westend
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Throw it on the grass and water it in, shouldn't be a problem.
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