Toxin-free low rent vermiculture
April 26, 2011 1:22 PM
I'd like to use hard PVC piping to make a worm tower for my garden - how safe is this?
I've found some conflicting information - and know very little about this myself - so would like some informed advice from the hive mind.
I will likely need to cut the pipe, and will definitely need to drill holes in it (which will be below the soil line). Do I need to be concerned with toxins leaching into the soil from the PVC at any point? If so, are there less toxic alternatives?
I've found some conflicting information - and know very little about this myself - so would like some informed advice from the hive mind.
I will likely need to cut the pipe, and will definitely need to drill holes in it (which will be below the soil line). Do I need to be concerned with toxins leaching into the soil from the PVC at any point? If so, are there less toxic alternatives?
If you're worried about PVC you have much bigger problems, seeing as how the plumbing in your house is almost certainly PVC.
posted by workerant at 1:51 PM on April 26, 2011
posted by workerant at 1:51 PM on April 26, 2011
You could do the underground bit with some bricks, perhaps set vertically with 1" gaps in between, and top it off with a terra cotta chimney flue liner for the above-ground bit.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:59 PM on April 26, 2011
posted by Sys Rq at 2:59 PM on April 26, 2011
Yeah, lots of residential and commercial plumbing (water line, not just drain) has been PVC for some time now. I wouldn't worry about it. Building codes are strict, municipal plumbing codes are insane. Where a poorly-built house can endanger its occupants, improper additions to a municipal water supply can put entire populations at risk. So, if PVC is good enough for potable water supply lines, it's probably fine for your garden.
You might consider ABS as well. While ABS is often rated by cities as being DWV only (drain, waste, vent), it is suitable for carrying potable water. ABS also performs better at low temperatures. Whereas PVC tends to shatter, ABS will tear. That might be a factor in your outdoor application.
posted by xedrik at 3:48 PM on April 26, 2011
You might consider ABS as well. While ABS is often rated by cities as being DWV only (drain, waste, vent), it is suitable for carrying potable water. ABS also performs better at low temperatures. Whereas PVC tends to shatter, ABS will tear. That might be a factor in your outdoor application.
posted by xedrik at 3:48 PM on April 26, 2011
No, PVC is used regularly in irrigation systems. If it leached anything, lawns and gardens would be showing the ill effects.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:12 PM on April 26, 2011
posted by oneirodynia at 4:12 PM on April 26, 2011
PVC is very toxic, it's just one of those things that most people don't care about though which is why it is plentiful, I don't use it in my garden. I wish there was an Eco friendly alternative but I would definitely try the bamboo, it is everywhere in stores this time of year.
posted by sadieglass at 6:56 PM on April 26, 2011
posted by sadieglass at 6:56 PM on April 26, 2011
So why not buy some cedar lumber and build a worm bin warning: PDF. I keep worms inside the house by the back door in a cedar bin. When a tray fills up, I build a ramp, migrate the worms to the next level (they're lousy jumpers) and make tea out of the castings. As long as you don't put any animal products except clean eggshells in the bin it won't smell bad. Your profile says you live in DC. Worms don't do well in temps under 40 or 45, so unless you want to replace them every spring you'll need to bring them inside anyway.
Use cedar because it's rot-resistant even when it's wet. I built both my worm bin and raised garden bed out of cedar years ago and they're still going strong.
posted by workerant at 7:26 AM on April 27, 2011
Use cedar because it's rot-resistant even when it's wet. I built both my worm bin and raised garden bed out of cedar years ago and they're still going strong.
posted by workerant at 7:26 AM on April 27, 2011
So ... I'm pretty much back where I started. If there are any MeFites out there w/a chemistry or toxicology background out there that can give me the unbiased lowdown on this issue, I'd *really* appreciate it. Interest in vermiculture is ticking up in DC, and I'd love to be able to pass on some rock solid information about this part of it.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:35 AM on April 27, 2011
posted by ryanshepard at 7:35 AM on April 27, 2011
Also, sadieglass, what are you basing your opinion on here?
posted by ryanshepard at 7:35 AM on April 27, 2011
posted by ryanshepard at 7:35 AM on April 27, 2011
the unbiased lowdown
As long as you buy PVC that is rated for drinking water use, how much more certain do you want to be? The water coming into your house may well have passed through some PVC on its way to your cup; the food you eat was irrigated using PVC lines. Sure, I guess we could be as foolish as the people who used to use lead pipes and our descendents will laugh at our cluelessness, but I doubt it. Gazillions of people around the world (including most of us) are drinking water that goes through PVC every day, and we aren't all keeling over from toxins.
Use the PVC or one of the other suggestions, and you will be fine.
(Not a toxicologist, but I have installed both drinking water and irrigation piping systems using PVC; my house has both copper and PEX lines in the water supply lines and I am comfortable with both.)
posted by Forktine at 5:35 AM on April 30, 2011
As long as you buy PVC that is rated for drinking water use, how much more certain do you want to be? The water coming into your house may well have passed through some PVC on its way to your cup; the food you eat was irrigated using PVC lines. Sure, I guess we could be as foolish as the people who used to use lead pipes and our descendents will laugh at our cluelessness, but I doubt it. Gazillions of people around the world (including most of us) are drinking water that goes through PVC every day, and we aren't all keeling over from toxins.
Use the PVC or one of the other suggestions, and you will be fine.
(Not a toxicologist, but I have installed both drinking water and irrigation piping systems using PVC; my house has both copper and PEX lines in the water supply lines and I am comfortable with both.)
posted by Forktine at 5:35 AM on April 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Safiya at 1:44 PM on April 26, 2011