Water Butts - Your thoughts

[Pineapple]

Hi there,

I was wondering - Does using water butts really save money? If so, it can't be much?

And what are the common problems you have faced when using or installing your water butts?


Thanks

[arpoet]

I prefer saved rain water from the house roof. Its far better for plants than Tap water.
As my greenhouses are under the trees i have given up on saving water from their roofs as the sap from the trees sent the water foul.

PS. Welcome to the madhouse.
Roger

[Penellype]

Welcome to the vine Pineapple. I don't have a waterbutt currently due to lack of space near a downpipe, but I have had them in the past and noted the following:

You must keep a lid on them otherwise they get full of mosquito larvae and flies apart from other stuff like leaves. Some sort of filter on the downpipe may also be necessary especially if you have a lot of moss or leaves on your roof.

Rain water is much better for plants, particularly acid lovers like blueberries, as tap water is often alkaline.

If you put your water butt on a stand in an exposed position and there is a strong wind after a drought it may well blow over if it is empty. My last one did so and smashed the bottom. Some method of fixing to the wall is recommended.

As for saving money, I doubt it would cover the cost of the water butt. Water is pretty cheap and the amount you would save in a water butt is probably fairly insignificant unless you have a bank of them, which of course costs more. Having said that, money is not the only consideration - purifying water is not particularly environmentally friendly and there is no need to use drinking quality water on the garden, so a water butt is good for that reason. I often use cooled bath water for watering plants if I can (best for flowers rather than veg).

[skeggijon]

As arpoet said, rainwater is far better for plants, but also if you have an allotment, waterbutts have 2 great uses.
1. Not having to wander back and forth to the nearest tap.

2. Most lotties turn off the water for a lot of the winter to avoid burst pipes.

[Bigmallly]

Hello Pineapple & welcome to the jungle. It does not have to be a "Waterbutt" as such, you can use any container. Old dustbin, wheely bin, bath, buckets, bowls..........you'll be surprised how much water you will need in the summer.

[Alison]

As arpoet said, rainwater is far better for plants, but also if you have an allotment, waterbutts have 2 great uses.
1. Not having to wander back and forth to the nearest tap.

2. Most lotties turn off the water for a lot of the winter to avoid burst pipes.

Both not true for our site as we don't have any water on tap

[Alison]

I've never thought about it from a money saving point of view and as we're not metered it's not really relevant to me. I do however think it's wrong to use water that has been treated to drinking level standards on the garden, as already said, most plants prefer rain water anyway, even some house plants. Also, at the plot I don't have access to running water do I'd not be able to water otherwise.

[NatalieCooke]

We've got 3 water butts. The one in greenhouse doesn't smell very but the plants don't seem to mind.
The greenhouse in under a large oak tree at the moment.

I wouldn't be there out them. We are on a water metre so every watering can full of water cost us. I managed to get one of the butts free one came with the house (doesn't have a lid on) and I bought one from Aldi for £25 with tap, stand and pipping kit.

[WendyC]

Whatever you collect water in, please make sure it is securely lidded. I have had experience of a drowned animal in one of my water butts and it was a horrible experience I'd hate anyone else to experience.

[Valleyman]

I worked out that after i had fit guttering, purchased the water butt etc then even if i used 100% of the rainfall that fell on my sheds that it would take almost 10 years to pay back. And then take into account that a significant portion of the rain fall is in winter and just overflows. So 15 years maybe?

So financially. No.

But my potted hydrangeas, pieris etc despise the hard water down here. And it makes me feel like i'm helping the environment a little bit.

[Kirk]

Having one or two is a good idea.
If metered then they save a little on cost but not a great deal.
If not metered then if there is a shortage you should not use tap water on the garden, but you can if metered. Principle being you are paying for it and if you throw it on the garden then it is your choice.

In a way then they can work for you whatever the situation.

[Alison]

Having one or two is a good idea.
If metered then they save a little on cost but not a great deal.
If not metered then if there is a shortage you should not use tap water on the garden, but you can if metered. Principle being you are paying for it and if you throw it on the garden then it is your choice.

In a way then they can work for you whatever the situation.

Last time we had a hose pipe ban it was on us all, metered and unmetered. Bizarrely it was however fine to fill watering cans up with the hose, just not using the hose directly on the ground.

[Gillykat]

Whatever you collect water in, please make sure it is securely lidded. I have had experience of a drowned animal in one of my water butts and it was a horrible experience I'd hate anyone else to experience.

There's four water butts on my new allotment and I must admit that THAT was my first thought too! I found the lid for one so put it on and will have a dig around for the other three....or make suitable covers. I'd never forgive myself if something drowned because of my lack of care (I lost a dog through this in the past and it's a horrible way to go )....plus as mentioned earlier, the last thing I want is an invasion of mozzies on my plot!!!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Try growing good blue berries and the like without out a water butt. The lime in potable water will eventually kill them off.

[Veggiemite]

I recently put one in to collect water off roof via drains.
Only one thing.... I don't know what the roof tiles are made of but I always get a build up of reddish sand in the drains. So the water goes over this sand on its way to the butts ( and I also get a bit of the sandy stuff at the bottom of the butt itself. I wonder if that might affect the water... and the health of the veggies or those that eat them? A bit of a tangent but any thoughts?