Water butts are essentially big storage units that catch and store rainwater as it falls. They are normally located near a drainpipe leading off the roof of your home, so you can take advantage of a much bigger rainwater catchment area. The stored water can then be used in your garden to water your plants.
If you pay to get water – getting a water butt is a no-brainer
If you are on a water meter, then getting a water butt is a no brainer, since you are charged for every litre of water you use from the mains. By installing a water butt in your home, you can catch and store rainwater as it falls and then use this to water the garden instead of relying on the mains supply that you would otherwise need to pay for.
Water butts are great in times of drought!
If you are not on a water meter, the reason for installing a water butt is less compelling since there is no real financial incentive for doing so. Having said that, water butts are fantastic in times of drought and especially useful when hit with a dreaded hosepipe ban that seem synonymous with living here in the UK!
The ability to store plenty of rainwater means you will be the envy of your neighbours, since you will be able to keep watering your garden well after their plants have all died!
Why else might you want to buy a water butt?
Rainwater is becoming a scarce commodity in the UK.
Since 1950, daily water usage has nearly tripled to 150 litres of water per person. This number takes into account washing, cleaning, cooking and drinking, but still this sort of increase is not sustainable.
The issue is especially bad in densely populated places like London – where high demand is almost outstripping supply. In fact, in 2010 a desalination facility was built to help try and help produce fresh water.
Now, obviously as an individual it is very easy to turn a blind eye to the ‘bigger picture’, and much more should be done by the water suppliers to stop the massive leakage in the water infrastructure, however solutions like water butts, water saving shower heads and tap aerators are all things that we can all do to help!
Other reasons for getting a water butt
- A water butt gives some control over the water level around the foundations of the home.
- A water butt stores rainwater, which is un-chlorinated, unlike tap water, so is actually better for plants
- Water butts help protect rivers, lakes and streams from run off pollution!
The features of water butts vary hugely!
Obviously most people are going to get the cheapest unit that does the job, but you can buy water butts that will create a design statement in the garden! Whether you want to grow flowers out of the top of the water butt or get an orange water butt to match the colour of your car, there will be one to suit your needs.
A final tip when you get a water butt!
A lot of people forget this, but try and put the water butt on a stand. Most water butts tend to have a tap at the bottom of them, to be able to tap off all the water contained within them. If you can’t put the water butt on a stand, then chances are you will struggle to get the watering can under the tap!
Think we missed something? Do you have a different opinion?
Comment below to get your voice heard…
I found our water butt Makes watering the garden much easier! Ours is on the other side of the house to the house pipe. I can simple fill a watering can and do my hanging baskets and tubs every evening before going to bed. A lovely way to relax at the end of a busy day as I’m not having to battle with the length of hose as well as all the hassle winding it up again every evening.
Well worth the investment- I hadn’t even consider the chlorination levels and the effects in the plants. Thanks again the greenage!
I would be lost with out my water butt now, i installed one about 2 years ago and make full use of the rainwater collected for plants inside and outside. I even plan to install another one this year at the front of my house so that i can easily water plants without carrying watering cans through the house.
I chose a decorative water butt which was a bit more expensive than the standard barrel water butt, it also have planters on in which take water from the stored rainwater. throughout the year i change over the planters which do really well as they rarely dry out.
I would not consider having a ugly green barrel at the front of my house but will be investing in a Rainwater Terrace water butt in black which i will plant up with flowers and stand next to my house in my front garden. i think on average with 1 200 litre rainwater butt i save around £20 per quarter on my water bill so i am hoping to save much more when i install a 134 litre rainwater butt at the front of my house
Are you sure you’re saving £20 a quarter? If you do the maths, and based on the average UK water cost of £2/M3 (£2/1000 litres), you are saving 10000 litres / quarter, or to put it another way, 12 large 9 litre watering can fulls per day. You must have a very large roof to collect that much?
We moved on to a water meter 6 months ago, so it became important for us to start saving water (or at least not wasting any). we have 2 waterbutts in our garden to help re-use rainwater. Simple, but definitely worth doing it.
Hi Solardan, we get a huge amount of interest in water butts. It makes sense to be honest, especially if you have a sizeable garden that requires a lot of water. The water butt is simply connected to a downpipe on the side of your property and duly collects the rainwater. You can then use it as and when.
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