I have two that I use constantly. It's been a very dry summer here so I have emptied them several times. It's the same water that comes off the roof during rainstorms, so, yes, I do use the water on tomatoes and pepper plants as well as herbs and flowers and have had no problems. I do have several layers of screening over the opening to keep mosquitoes and other bugs out of the barrel. Under normal conditions they save me a considerable amount each year. BTW - mine are of the homemade variety rather than the commercially produced ones.