A high EC in the growing medium reduces plant growth by making it harder for plants to absorb water. Solving a soluble salts problem is difficult. Leaching periodically to flush salts from the medium may be necessary, but this practice wastes water and contributes to runoff. Growers who recycle irrigation water usually find it necessary to mix recycled solution with low-EC water from another source. Testing your water .
Water quality can vary a great deal depending on source and time of year.
Although problems occasionally arise with water from municipal supplies, water quality problems more often occur in water from wells and irrigation ponds. If you have never tested your water before, test several times during the year. Once you have an idea of how much seasonal fluctuation there is in your water, monitor your irrigation water quality every few years. To collect a water sample, allow water to run at maximum flow for five minutes. Collect water in a clean, plastic pint bottle.