Zinc

Question

I plan to use the water off of my roof to water my vegetable garden. My husband puts zinc along the roof line once a year to keep the moss from growing. Will this affect the stored water that will be used to water the garden?

Answer 1

If he is using it once a year, then it will get into the water. How much is another question though. A little zinc will not harm anything, but a lot of zinc can mess up the balance of the soil and kill earthworms and beneficial micro-organisims. I would recommend taking a water sample to your local extension service and have them test the water to see how much zinc is in it, which will tell you if the water is safe to use.