Water butt level indicator

[Lardman]

Another thing I'm surprised isn't built into the item as standard

Nasty shock yesterday when my water butt ran dry, other than the thump test does anyone have a good solution for a gauge. I thought about drilling a hole in the side and use clear pipe stuck to the outside but I'm open to better idea, especially ones less likely to leak

[bario1]

A cane pushed into a polystyrene block and threaded through a small hole in the water butt lid?

[veggiechicken]

I'm making this idea up as I write!
Could you attach a long cane/rod.pipe to a float; drill a hole in the top of the butt and poke the stick through it so that the float rises/sinks with the water level and the float will tell you by how much?

EDIT. Snap, bario but yours is a simpler explanation!

[nickdub]

similar to the others - old tennis ball as a float with a bit of string tied to it, looped to the outside and a small weight on that end - the higher the outside weight, the lower the inside level.

[MyWifesBrassicas]

Just look inside

[Jay-ell]

If you put one of those tap doubles onto the tap and connect a clear bit of hose to one of the taps, taping it up the side of the butt then you can see the level in the clear hose.

You might need to tape a flap over the hose to prevent algae. If it's wide enough a plastic bead that floats can make it easier to see the level

[Lardman]

1. Cane Float - when the water butt is full it will be wiggling 3ft in the air.
2. Look inside - "childsafe" lids need a screwdriver to remove.
3. Double tap - interesting - off to google the taps.
4. Small float, weight & string - promising with the added advantage of being my favourite price.

[veggiechicken]

1. Cane Float - when the water butt is full it will be wiggling 3ft in the air.

Put a flag on top and say its a birdscarer.

[nickdub]

1. Cane Float - when the water butt is full it will be wiggling 3ft in the air.
2. Look inside - "childsafe" lids need a screwdriver to remove.
3. Double tap - interesting - off to google the taps.
4. Small float, weight & string - promising with the added advantage of being my favourite price.

I'm nothing if not cheap :-)

[Jay-ell]

similar to the others - old tennis ball as a float with a bit of string tied to it, looped to the outside and a small weight on that end - the higher the outside weight, the lower the inside level.

I'm borrowed this idea and used a corkscrew and a bottle - two integral components to my irrigation system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FjRvKmd4WM