Anyone got a Water Butt in the garden ??

Hi

Looking to install one of these since i've got a water meter installed and water lawn/baskets/tubs through summer.

Has anyone got any advice re how many litres/dimensions etc

Or are they waste of time ??

Cheers

might be a waste of time this year cuz we supposed to have a hot one

if ya get it installed whilst we have the rain it should save some money.. we still get rain in summer.. where did the idea that summer is scorching and dry lol.

go for a large drum.. not sure on litre capacity though :9 bigger it is the more money you save..

Not got a water butt as I'm not on a meter, but I use irrigation pipes and a 12V valve on a timeclock to do the baskets.
It only gives them just enough water and stops them drying out when you forget to do them.
Got most of the kit from B&Q but modified it a bit.

A mate at work does something similar to water grow bags in a greenhouse via pvc feed/expansion tanks on a stillage next to the greenhouse. He collects rain water as he's on a meter.

Curly

We used to have one at our one of our previous houses. We used to make good use of it, and the plants seemed to do much better with the water from the butt, than off the tap/mains.

I've been thinking about putting one in here again at this house, but I just can't be arsed...!

Fitted two butts yesterday for a customer.
Don't go to a DIY or gardening shop. Go to builders merchants, make sure it comes with lid and tap (which uses the push-on hose connector)
Get a 50 gallon to make it worthwhile, quite large though. I paid £32.15 trade each.

This is the one I supplied:
http://www.ferndale-lodge.co.uk/Shop/Child+Safe+Water+Butt+564909.htm

Dazza said:

We used to have one at our one of our previous houses. We used to make good use of it, and the plants seemed to do much better with the water from the butt, than off the tap/mains.

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thats soo true fyi in litres normally its a 200 ltr waterbutt
B&Q not a bad price really but as normal shop around

been looking and been shown this place -

IBCs - Recycled Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) previously used for mainly non-food use.

Seriously thinking about getting a 1000l one.

bilabonic said:

been looking and been shown this place -

IBCs - Recycled Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) previously used for mainly non-food use.

Seriously thinking about getting a 1000l one.

Click to expand...

Sure that will be big enough? lol

Just wondering if the translucent type would be effected by algae etc, I see they do a black one but costs more. Not sure if that would have any effect on your plants etc, but I bet it will turn green in time.


Aldi had the 210L type on offer a few weeks ago too. Might be worth seeing if they still have 1? £28 too!

ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 5th March 2009


Curly

Edit. wrong link

Cheers Curly mate.

If it's going to be an IBC or 2 couple of connected water butts i will be making a wooden enclosure for them rather than having them on show anyway.

bilabonic said:

Cheers Curly mate.

If it's going to be an IBC or 2 couple of connected water butts i will be making a wooden enclosure for them rather than having them on show anyway.

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Put a fountain in it and make it a feature lol

Maybe you could work out how much water you'd use and compare it to average rainfall for where you live. (you'd need to know the area of the roof you're collecting it from too) Might be able to get a rough idea of size needed?

Curly

I have been looking for a water Butt as well, I am having an issue with the rain diverter. I plan to use the rain from my workshop but I fitted smaller drain pipe for this and all the diverters are for full size pipes ( I forget the sizes at the moment).

Can the down pipe be fitted directly into the barrel?

steve7713 said:

Can the down pipe be fitted directly into the barrel?

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Yes, most people do. The contraptions you are talking about divert water from drainpipe and when barrel is full the water then goes down drainpipe.

However if the drainpipe doesn't go straight into the drain, then the device is pointless.