[infowarrior]

    Bought waterbutt from wilkinsons couple months ago and whenever the water level gets up to about 8 inches, the water that I empty into my watering can from the butt is throthy and smells of soap so I take the lid off and the smell of soap is really strong in the waterbutt!  The first time it happened i emptied it all out, used a hosepipe with decent pressure and blasted all the sides inside etc to wash off any residue as I presumed it might just be soap left on from being washed out at the factory or something.  We've had some more rain lately and unbelievabley it's happened again.  Really don't understand this and I'm quite concerned as I'm using the water for my blueberries as they don't like tap water and payed quite a bit of money for the plants.   Anyone else had this sort of problem with cheap waterbutts??  With the waterbutt being in the sun, could it be possible that the heat on the waterbutt could be starting off some type of chemical reaction or something although I doubt this??

 

[Squibbs]

When you washed it off with the hose did you get the same soapyness? If not is there someone who is able to squirt soap either directly into the water butt or onto whatever surface you are collecting water from.

I imagine if there was something soapy in the manufacturing process they would have washed it away prior to selling it - it doesn't sound like lots of people having the same issue - so I wonder if its a local incident.

There is always the option to take it back as its clearly not fit for purpose assuming you haven't had it for all that long.

[mumofstig]

New water butts shouldn't have this problem, recycled ones can and will need a good few washes to clear the detergent they stored...I speak from experience here 

where is the collected water coming from? House downpipe?
Has a basin been connected to the rain downpipe at some stage.? It shouldn't be, but is quite commonly seen after DIY jobs 

Is it frothyness rather than soapyness, cos waterbutts can go frothy and you need a drop of Citrox or something like that to clarify the water sometimes

[infowarrior]

  It's attatched to side of shed. Felt roof.  Hope it's not idiots squirting fairy liquid on roof!
 It's a throthy stuff.

[Aunt Sally]

Your plants won't mind if it has a bit of soap in it.

[Runwell-Steve]

All my brand new Been and Queued Water Butts did exactly the same, it took a while for the smell to disappear but the plants didn't seem bothered by it, and my tomatoes didn't taste of soap so all was fine.

[Paul Plots]

Your plants won't mind if it has a bit of soap in it.

Ready washed tomatoes and salad. You pay extra for that in Tes***s 

[Ice]

Rainwater from my shed that has a flat roof is also frothy when I fill from the water butt.  Hasn't done any of my plants harm that I am aware of.  Water from my house roof is not frothy at all.  Strange, but not disastrous.

[DD.]

[8doubles]

The green mineral felt does tend to make water soapy if the felt is new or after hot weather.
Any organic matter disturbed at the bottom of the butt may also give off an oily film but without the soapy smell.

I think veg will not suffer from being watered with it.

[Paul Plots]

It's probably just tars and chemicals from the asphalt 

I have, like countless others, been using a water butt for years and I'm still fine   

[Growster...]

They used to sell big containers which had stored orange pulp near here.

They smelt fantastic for months, but I'm afraid that's not the sort of answer you want to hear, apols...

Like everyone here says though, a bit of soap - if it is soap, won't do any harm.

[evie2]

soapy water used to be used to get caterpillars off brassicas 

[JayG]

Eastenders is the only sort of soap which is really harmful to your health and well-being so I'm sure you'll be fine. 

Is your shed roof relatively new? I think I'd try an experiment using water from a hose-pipe directed onto the roof and collected into a different container - if you get the same result it can't be the water butt at fault (not a complete solution but at least you would have narrowed down the possibilities.)

[Paul Plots]

Eastenders is the only sort of soap which is really harmful to your health and well-being so I'm sure you'll be fine. 

Is your shed roof relatively new? I think I'd try an experiment using water from a hose-pipe directed onto the roof and collected into a different container - if you get the same result it can't be the water butt at fault (not a complete solution but at least you would have narrowed down the possibilities.)

There's scientificnessness in his approach!!