[PaBill]

Is it ok to make the sugar syrup with city water? Wasn't sure if the chlorination and other stuff they put in the water would be harmful? or should I use spring water?

 

[CtyAcres]

Try SUGAR FREE beekeeping, its healthy!!

 

[Barry Digman]

Interesting. I hadn't thought about that. My wife is a certified pool operator and deals with stuff in water. At home she fills her watering pitcher and lets it sit a day or so before watering houseplants.

 

[Duncan151]

I boil the water first to drive out the chlorine, or just let it sit overnight first. It makes a difference in my pickles and homebrew.

 

[AR Beekeeper]

Go ahead and use the tap water, it will not matter to the bees.

 

[sharpdog]

I boil the water first to drive out the chlorine, or just let it sit overnight first. It makes a difference in my pickles and homebrew.

I add sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to my sugar syrup to keep it from fermenting. See Randy Oliver's website scientificbeekeeping. City water will be fine.
Luke

 

[Native Bee]

Try SUGAR FREE beekeeping, its healthy!!

I'm with ya!!

 

[cnt]

Seeing as Bees seem to love swimming pool water, I'm inclined to believe that tap is ok.

 

[Ravenseye]

I think it's just fine. Sometimes we think too much.

 

[tacomabees]

I think it's just fine. Sometimes we think too much.

This...

 

[BeeGora]

I've noticed that the bees will stop taking water from the bird bath for a day or so after I refill it. It seems that they prefer it after it sits for a while.

 

[Michael Bush]

I boil my water as it keeps better and it's easier to get it to dissolve. But as other's have said, they like swimming pool water... so I don't think the chlorine in the water is going to kill them.

 

[RiodeLobo]

Try SUGAR FREE beekeeping, its healthy!!

I'm with ya!!

How is the view up there on that soapbox?

 

[mpgreer]

I boil the water first to drive out the chlorine, or just let it sit overnight first. It makes a difference in my pickles and homebrew.

a lot of bigger water companies use chloramine (chlorine+ammonia) instead of chlorine. it's more stable, so boiling, filtering, or letting it sit for a day will not break it down. that's good if you are a water company that wants to maintain chlorine levels. but, for instance, you can't get it out of aquariums without a chemical neutralizer.

incidentally, chlorine kills fish by affecting their gills ability to absorb oxygen. so they suffocate. no gills on bees so maybe we're okay.

 

[Native Bee]

How is the view up there on that soapbox?

Well my plan is to feed only honey back to them when they need it but I know I'll cave when they're about starve. I want to try not feeding sugar though, I'll have to see how it goes.

 

[CtyAcres]

Native Bee- If they are about to starve thro some chunk combed honey on top or make some
creamed honey from straight honey as a fondant above or below a hive cover. Please try to stick
with just honey you won't regret it.

 

[RiodeLobo]

I am sure we all agree that it is best to leave enough honey for the colony to prosper on its own. I would be hesitant to feed honey, unless it came from my hives. In the absence of a secure supply of honey, I think sugar is the best option.

 

[Splatt]

When I need to make syrup I use tap water, and the bees don't seem to care.

 

[JRG13]

CityAcres, you must realize some of us don't get much honey and bees will need some feeding time to time in certain arid or overly cultivated land with nothing to forage on certain times of the year.

 

[sharpdog]

Try SUGAR FREE beekeeping, its healthy!!

According to who?