Draining to jerry can - treat the water?

[Jonathon]

I've just plumbed in my Duetto and I'm draining the drip tray to a jerry can, which is fantastic after years of using non-plumbed machines. But I'm wondering about the stale water in there - it's a 20l jerry can so it can hold quite a few days (weeks) of water. Should I treat the water to stop it smelling, growing bugs, etc?

Of course emptying it daily would prevent any problems but that spoils the fun of having a plumbed in machine.

[chokkidog]

Just empty it once a week?? :-D

Don't 'treat' it..... there's enough chemicals in the environment already and if you use organic Caffetto then the waste

will be good for your garden, especially acid lovers like Nightshades ( Tomatoes, Capsicums, Chillies and spuds ) and Rhubarb.

Having a plumbed machine is truly the icing on the cake!

My new machine is plumbed in and out. :-D

[Jonathon]

Thanks, yep I'm aiming to empty about once a week, just concerned that leaving stale water there for a week might smell, turn feral, etc.

[flynnaus]

If you think that could be a problem why not empty the can more often?

[JWILL]

Thanks, yep I'm aiming to empty about once a week, just concerned that leaving stale water there for a week might smell, turn feral, etc.

easy answer just make more coffees

[chokkidog]

Make a cap for the jc and seal the drain pipe into the cap.

[MorganGT]

Thanks, yep I'm aiming to empty about once a week, just concerned that leaving stale water there for a week might smell, turn feral, etc.

The tub our workshop Elektra drains into is pretty big, so it often goes quite a few weeks without being emptied, and doesn't tend to smell, although the solid layer of scum that eventually accumulates on the top (like skin on custard) may trap any smell in!

My home machine drains into a 10 litre bottle, and usually goes more than a month between emptying without any smells appearing. Being in the living room only a few feet from the couch, we'd be likely to notice any smells if they did occur.

[Jonathon]

Thanks, it sounds like my fears were unfounded...just over cautious as I grew up in Ireland where you could leave standing water for ever and the cold will keep all bugs at bay.