Most garden hoses are made from plastics and fittings not FDA approved for drinking water, and most can put harmful chemicals and lead into the water as it passes through the hose, especially if the water sits in the hose for any length of time. Remember that 'hose water' taste? Well, guess what that taste comes from? Numerous studies have shown that the products that contribute to that taste are harmful, and some are cancer-causing. Lead is also common in many garden hoses and fittings, making the water from those hoses unhealthy to drink. No in-depth studies have been conducted on the effects of such hose water on plants, but if it's unhealthy for me, I don't want it on or in my plants, especially container plants, where minerals build up to much higher levels in containers than in soil.
Water Right contacted me and asked if I would like to evaluate one of their hoses, a 3/8” inside diameter 50 foot straight hose (they also have a variety of coiled hoses). They would send me a hose with which I could do my worst – tie it it knots, freeze it and run over it with my car, leave it in the hot sun while pressurized as high as I could get it (120 PSI is all my home water system can muster), and any other punishment I could think of. In return they only asked that I write truthfully about my findings. So I accepted, and two days later the hose arrived at my door.
I've spent the last two weeks trying to find something I didn't like about the hose, but other than one minor thing (which I'll write about shortly), with each use and test I've become more and more of a believer. The hose isn't just lead-safe, it's tough, strong, easily coiled, lightweight, hard to kink, and has great strain reliefs at each end. My one complaint? The female hose end has six sides of very smooth metal – when my hands were wet it was a little slippery and hard to grip to tighten fully. However, due to the depth of the socket and the great washer inside, it didn't leak even when not fully tight.
Here are the details of my testing:
Kink Test
I repeatedly kinked and straightened a section of hose and it always popped back into shape with no visible sign of the hose ever having been kinked. I then tied it in a knot, forcing it to stayed kinked, and set it out on hot pavement on a 100 degree afternoon. After two hours I drove over the knotted hose several times. When I untied the hose, yep, you guessed it, no damage and the hose straightened right out.
At each end of the hose are some very well designed kink protectors, intended to create a gentle curve to the hose at the faucet. They work very well, are very strong, and appear just as durable as the rest of the hose.
Freezing flexibility test
I put the hose in my garage freezer which is set to 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C) for two days. When I pulled it out it was still flexible, and kinking it and stepping on it showed no signs of damage.
Heat and pressure test
I then hooked up the hose to a faucet which has 120 psi, screwed a plug onto the end of the hose, and turned the faucet on all the way. I measured the diameter of the hose, then set the hose out in the hot sun (this day was a little cooler, 98 degrees) and let it bake for several hours. I then jumped up and down on the hose and even ran over it with my car (again). Other than a little dirt, there was no visible stretching or damage.
Abrasion test
I dragged the hose back a forth and back and forth across bricks, a cement driveway, and asphalt. There were some minor surface scratches, but less than on my regular garden hose when I performed the same test.
Coiling test
I hooked up the hose in my hand-crank hose box and coiled it up. The hose coiled very easily due to its light weight and flexibility. I unwound and wound up the hose several times, and each time it went very easily. I then put a hand sprayer on the end of the hose and turned on the water, filling the hose. The hose even coiled easily while pressurized and full of water! That's something I would never try with a regular hose.
Scratch test
I took a pair of pliers to the female hose end and clamped down and wiggled around. There was barely a scratch, and the heavy nickel and chrome plating is clearly very hard and thick, as Water Right claims.
Water flow
The hose is smaller around than most I work with, so I was concerned about water flow and pressure at the end of the hose. I hooked up a hose-end fertilizer sprayer and tested out the pressure by fertilizing my garden. There was more than enough pressure and water flow for the spray to reach the far corners of my garden.
OK, so they've shown me that not all garden hoses are the same, and that quality design and materials really does make a difference. The Water Right hoses come in both straight versions (like I tested) and coiled, and in several lengths and colors. A larger diameter hose (½ inch ID) is due out soon, if not already available. I plan to buy at least two of the coiled hoses; they will be perfect for my deck gardens. You can see all the hoses and accessories at www.waterright.com, and they may be available at a garden shop or hardware store near you.
