Eating watercress from Koi pond

[Leecm3]

I just started growing watercress in my koi / Goldfish pond. The watercress is doing very well. My question is, is it safe for my wife and I to eat the watercress from the pond either cooked or uncooked?

Cannot seem to find anything that definitively says you can or cannot. I have seen some blogs that say it’s great, go for it while other blogs say not for human consumption.

[Noahsnana]

Never heard of anyone eating stuff out of the pond If you try it let us know

Maybe CraigP can address this question

[Paul Sabucchi]

What does not kill you makes you stronger...so let us know which of the two outcomes! Jokes aside, I have swam quite a few times in the pond and lived to tell the tale. You can always just eat the emersed part, wash thoroughly and/or use PP

[CraigP]

I can't speak directly to the safety, but I have harvested and eaten both water chestnuts ( Eleocharis dulcis) and lotus tubers (Nelumbo lutea and N. nucifera ) from my ponds with no ill effects. Water Celery (Oenanthe javanica) I also have also used for a peppery touch in a green salad.

[Paul Sabucchi]

Good to know, I have loads of that water celery!

[CraigP]

I've also used surplus Victoria sp seed to make popcorn.< g > Fwiw....I specify the scientific names as common names can be confusing and there are other species of Oenanthe that are toxic. But water celery whether green or variegated are common pond plants. Just know your supplier...so sell mislabeled plants rather than miss a sell

[Leecm3]

Thank you for responses. Gonna try some this weekend.

[*Ci*]

Around here, watercress is nicknamed “ditchweed” as it, literally, grows in boggy roadside ditches. I eat it regularly from both my neighbours koi pond filters and from the arguably filthy ditches and I’m alive and healthy!

[Leecm3]

Mixed some of the watercress from pond with iceberg lettuce salad and it was delicious, very good.

[secuono]

As long as you don't chemically treat your pond, it's fine.