Yet Another Watering Question

[fixer1958]

There is a creek that runs through the center of my property that is more run off than anything. It can get 6-8 feet deep in heavy rains and dry up in drought conditions. Would it be safe to use this water for the garden?
There aren't any roads or fields for about 3/4 mile till it gets to me.
I was wondering about pollutants in the water.
It flows most of the time and there are a fews deeper holes I could pull the water from. It's 75 to 100 yards from the garden with a approx. 20 lift. I thought it may be better water since I am on rural (chemicals and chlorine)and the water bill can get pretty high in the summer.
It's possible for me to run a generator and a electric pump for the sprinkler.
It will be alot cheaper than the water bill. I have both that are unused.
Good or bad idea?

[wy_white_wolf]

Might check into if you can legally use the water first. Just because it flows through your property doesn't mean you have rights to use it. In Wyoming it could be a high dollar fine that would pay your water bill for years.

[fixer1958]

I don't know if anyone would even know or care. I'm 1/2 mile off the road and the only
thing that would give me away is the sound of the generator.
The neighbor could rat me out. I have enough dirt on him that he shouldn't say anything.
I have thought of the legal aspect of it for about 2 seconds.
Toxins are the only thing I'm worried about.

[MaineFarmMom]

What's upstream? If you have something like a farm spraying chemicals (organic and non-organic) or livestock dropping manure in the stream I wouldn't use it. You can run a water test to get an idea of how good the water is.

[bachelorb]

I use mine all the time. If the animals are dumping manure in it, its better for the garden. If there are pesticides in it, they'll probably be so diluted it won't matter. Shoot, the Rio Grande is now the Rio really really small due to everyone who uses it for irrigation for commercial costs. Go for it!! Having a free water source is extremely lucky