Can you use water from soaked hay on to water the garden?

Hay soaking water is different from undrunk water though
I read somewhere (on here, probably) that it is deemed to be contaminated waste and shouldn't go in drains
It would probably be ok on tough established plants but I wouldn't use it on anything delicate
I guess it depends how long you are soaking for too - water after a quick 1/2 hr soak (which I'd be happy to use anywhere) is very different stuff from what's left after 12 hrs
 
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cauda equina said:
Hay soaking water is different from undrunk water though
I read somewhere (on here, probably) that it is deemed to be contaminated waste and shouldn't go in drains
It would probably be ok on tough established plants but I wouldn't use it on anything delicate
I guess it depends how long you are soaking for too - water after a quick 1/2 hr soak (which I'd be happy to use anywhere) is very different stuff from what's left after 12 hrs
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A friend has been using it on a tree, the tree is not looking good!!
 
cauda equina said:
I read somewhere (on here, probably) that it is deemed to be contaminated waste and shouldn't go in drains
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^^^ Yep I've heard this too; have heard that this has potential to cause similar environmental damage as would a silage leak, which is has a hugely negative impact if it gets into any water courses when it does occur on farms.

Be careful is what I would say and be aware if you have any water-courses, streams or ditches in the immediate area which this water could drain into. You don't want the Environment Agency on your back.
 
Cinnamontoast said:
So you’re not supposed to tip it down a drain? My yard always do, I thought it was standard, where else could it go?
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Your supposed to have a soak away for it, if you get a check the fines can be heavy especially for businesses.
We have to have a soak away for our kennels even though we lift poop, and wash out kennels twice a day if there is any pee, we only have 7 kennels it's not like there are dozens
 
Hay water is polluting in water courses because it is very high in nutrients. It has a high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). This means that bacteria and plant algae will rapidly multiply and deplete the water of oxygen. Leading to eutrophication https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication This in turn kills fish and invertebrates that need oxygen.

It’s not poisonous to plants but I guess you can oversupply nutrients which may have a deleterious effect.
 
Cinnamontoast said:
So you’re not supposed to tip it down a drain? My yard always do, I thought it was standard, where else could it go?
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It's a waste to tip it down the drain, plus it's not good for where it would then be going, but to use it for watering plants it is very good. It has nutrients in it.

Nutrients are not good for water courses but are good for plants.
 
twiggy2 said:
Your supposed to have a soak away for it, if you get a check the fines can be heavy especially for businesses.
We have to have a soak away for our kennels even though we lift poop, and wash out kennels twice a day if there is any pee, we only have 7 kennels it's not like there are dozens
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Good job it’s only one person hosing briefly, then! Probably going to have a hosepipe ban soon.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
Hay water is polluting in water courses because it is very high in nutrients. It has a high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). This means that bacteria and plant algae will rapidly multiply and deplete the water of oxygen. Leading to eutrophication https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication This in turn kills fish and invertebrates that need oxygen.

It’s not poisonous to plants but I guess you can oversupply nutrients which may have a deleterious effect.
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^^^ excellent explanation

The effluent message was put out by one of the companies that make hay steamers and has rather grown its own legs in terms of horse owner interpretation

Given what a PITA soaking hay is I doubt there's many people doing it who could buy a steamer instead. Our well is so low now I can't justify using the water to soak and even with low quality hay I can see the waistlines growing
 
I take hay home and soak it for the small one. Since the hot weather I have been trying it out by watering a few plants. They are looking really good !
 
I think if you only have a couple of horses then watering your garden with it is fine and won’t impact waterways assuming you aren’t tipping it into a waterway. After all garden and agricultural fertilisers have nitrates in them! I water plants with hay water with no issues.

Given how dry the ground is , a small volume won’t go far.

I think a lot of the fuss has been generated by haygain

(This hho article is from 2008 so I don’t know if any legislation has changed ):

wastewater from haynets only comes under Defra’s nitrates regulations if disposed of on a massive, industrial scale......
.....According to Water UK, wastewater from haynets is not classified as trade effluent by water and sewage companies, “however, Water UK would not expect facilities that generate wastewater from washing hay to discharge into water company sewers”.

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care/feeding/ask-hh-waste-hay-water-272900
 
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3 horses here. I consulted my farmer and he said it was fine. I wouldn't use it on very young plants just in case
 
Or I’ve been wondering about this, not so much for plants but maybe to chuck over bits of my field or the garden grass.
I have a hay cube though and the drain is so low I can’t think how I might save it.
 
I don't soak hay, but I do use all the water from the washing up, the washing machine drain and the kitchen sink drain on my flowers. I haven't killed anything yet.
 
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