Jade wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 5:02 am
My tap is around 148ppm so yeah it’s not good. I have distilled gallons I buy every week or two as well, but I was also trying to save it. No real rain lately and the next few days might be in the 90s and feeling like 100, so I try to keep a few gallons in case of emergency, but I really need an extra source that doesn’t depend on rain and won’t break my bank for now. I’m paranoid I’ll be out sometime and the store won’t have any. I’m also spending a lot more as I get more plants.
Do any stores in your area (grocery stores, WalMart, Target, etc.) have RO filter machines out front? This would be a quick and easy way to grab a few gallons when you need it. Just make sure that they don't "add minerals for taste".
If you don't have gobs of plants, a short-term backup plan would be a
ZeroWater filter pitcher. Your tap water's TDS isn't that high, so the filters should last longer.
The next step up would be a water distiller something like
this. It churns out 6 gallons of distilled water a day, so you want to run it well in advance of the need. Also, it draws 750 watts of electricity to boil the water into steam, will make your electricity bill go up if you use it a lot.
If you plan to add more plants, then your best bet for the long term is to invest in a decent RO filter.