If there’s one thing we can rely on in the UK, it’s unreliable weather. Regardless of the time of year, we could have two weeks of downpours followed by a month of divine sunshine. So, if you’re lucky enough to have a garden, a water butt is essential.
Letting rainwater flow down the gutter is essentially pouring money down the drain. Instead, the cash-and-environment saving water butt will catch the rainfall so you can use it free of charge whenever your precious plants are in need of a bit of hydration.
Even better, when there’s a hosepipe ban and extreme heatwaves, which is happening increasingly more regularly - I’m sure you all remember last summer’s 40°C highs - you’ll be the smug neighbour who’s using their harvested rainwater free of guilt.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, even in dry areas, 24,000 litres could be collected from the roof each year. So, if everyone in the UK was to install the nifty water-saver in their respective gardens, there would be a huge reduction in the necessity for hosepipe bans at all.
Rainwater will leave your garden looking greener and lusher, too. Mains water contains disinfectants that can be damaging to plants and has a higher pH which affects nutrient availability in the root zone. Instead, rainfall contains more oxygen and an acidic pH which helps release micronutrients like zinc and iron in the soil.
How does a water butt work?
In most houses, rainwater that falls onto the roof collects in the gutter which flows down the pipes and into the drain. Instead, this water can be diverted from the downpipe into the water butt - and once it’s full, it continues flowing freely down the drain.
What size of water butt should I use?
As long as you can access a downpipe, it can be any size you see fit.
If you go for a smaller size and realise the potential of collecting more water, you can easily connect two smaller water butts together rather than owning an XL size. This can actually be easier to install and less difficult to empty and clean on an annual basis. Which brings us nicely onto...
How to keep a water butt clean?
Maintaining the cleanliness of your water butt is important. They can suffer from phytophthora root rot or can become green with algae - but these nifty tips will keep these cleaning nightmares from happening.
You need to clean your butt annually. You’ll need to empty it, jet wash the outside, and clean the interior with a hot solution or gardening disinfectant. Alternatively, you can use lemon and vinegar if you’d prefer to use natural products.
You can keep the lid on to prevent algae and install a filter to your downpipe to stop falling leaves, seeds and twigs from making their way into your water supply.
How to install a water butt?
Installing a water butt is a super easy five minute DIY job and each will come with their own instructions - but here’s a general guide, just in case:
- Choose the specific downpipe and set up a flat stand next to it which is high enough to allow for a watering can beneath the tap of the water butt.
- Using a hacksaw, cut the downpipe 3cm below the top of the waterbutt, attach a rainwater diverter and reattach the bottom half of the downpipe beneath.
- Measure 8cm down from the top of the butt and drill a hole.
- Connect the water butt and the diverter using a water butt connector.
- Pop the lid on and enjoy your new freshly harvesting water source.
Best water butts at a glance
- Best for getting everything you need in one solution: Water Butts Direct 200L Garden Lake Water Butt with Stand and Diverter - £59.99, Water Butts Direct
- Best for plant pot chic: Water Butts Direct 165L Midi Metropolitan Water Butt Planter in Millstone - £210, Water Butts Direct
- Best for space saving: Wickes Compact Water Butt Rain Saver Kit 100L - £32, Wickes
- Best for an extra large size for a great price: Pluto Packaging Extra Large 250L Water Butt Set with Stand Diverter & Tap Garden Barrel Rain Water Collector - £79.95, Amazon
- Best for creating a focal point: Water Butts Direct 300L Helena Amphora Water Butt - £347.99, Water Butts Direct
- Best for convenience: Waitrose Wall-Mounted Pure Raindrop Water Butt - £375.99, Waitrose
- Best for extra growing space: Water Butts Direct 134L Rainwater Terrace Water Butt Planter 2 Tier in Black - £155.99, Water Butts Direct
- Best for a vintage aesthetic: Garden Trading 100L Water Butt - £250, Garden Trading
- Best for disguising your water butt as an attractive feature: Water Butts Direct 250L Barrique Wood Effect Water Butt Barrel - £259.99, Water Butts Direct
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Water Butts Direct 200L Garden Lake Water Butt with Stand and Diverter
Best for: getting everything you need in one solution
Dimensions: Height 122cm, Width 68cm, Depth 68cm
Capacity: 200L
This one has it all and comes at a cost-of-living-crisis price. Its large capacity is ideal for serious water conservation, it’s lightweight, and comes complete with a stand, tap, childproof lid and a down pipe diverter, so you don’t need to buy anything else to get going.
It’s made from recycled plastic – always a bonus – and has a cute barrel-effect look (though let’s be honest, it’s not going to fool anyone). The diverter kit conveniently fits standard 68mm round or 65mm square plastic down pipes from your guttering. If you want a reliably well-made water butt to beat a hosepipe ban at a sensible price, this is going to be your go-to.
Buy now £59.99, Water Butts Direct
Water Butts Direct 165L Midi Metropolitan Water Butt Planter - Millstone
Best for: plant pot chic
Dimensions: Height 94cm, Width 59cm, Depth 59cm
Capacity: 165L
If you want to collect rainfall without compromising on style - especially if there’s nowhere to hide the water butt out of plain sight - this contemporary planter design would make a great garden focal point.
The handy container has a brass tap on the front which is high enough for a watering can, and a lower outlet to the back so you can fully empty it when it needs cleaning. There’s no need for a stand, either.
Buy now £210.00, Water Butts Direct
Wickes Compact Water Butt Rain Saver Kit - 100L
Best for: space saving
Dimensions: Height 124cm, Width 38cm, Depth 38cm
Capacity: 100L
At only 38cm across, but still with a capacity of 100 litres, Wikes’ compact design is ideal for gardens where space is limited. Crafted using recycled plastic, it’s eco-friendly in more ways than one.
Buy now £32.00, Wickes
Pluto Packaging Extra Large 250L Water Butt Set with Stand Diverter & Tap Garden Barrel Rain Water Collector
Best for: an extra large size for a great price
Dimensions: Height 111cm, Width 54cm, Depth 44cm
Capacity: 250L
Offering a huge capacity of 250 litres for a great price, Pluto Packaging’s wallet-friendly water butt is great for those who have gardens with a larger square footage. Easy to assemble, it has all of the relevant parts included so you’ll be good to go as soon as it arrives.
Buy now £79.95, Amazon
Water Butts Direct 300L Helena Amphora Water Butt
Best for: creating a focal point
Dimensions: Height 120cm, Width 78cm, Depth 78cm
Capacity: 300L
If you’re looking to make an impression, this terracotta-effect water butt will help you conserve water for when hosepipe bans kick in and add a point of interest to your garden in one fell swoop.
Although it’s made from weather and UV-resistant polyethylene, which means it’s light and durable, it looks realistically like it’s made from clay, so it will be at home among your flower pots. It holds a generous 300 litres and comes with an attractive brass 3/4" BSP tap, which adds to the high-spec vibe of it.
Interestingly, one side has a more distressed look than the other, so you can decide how antique you want to go and there are tap connection points on both sides.
Buy now £347.99, Water Butts Direct
Waitrose Wall-Mounted Pure Raindrop Water Butt
Best for: convenience
Dimensions: Height 114.8cm, Width 48cm, Depth 48cm
Capacity: 70L
Waitrose’s barrel attaches directly to the wall and drainpipe for a stylish eco-friendly addition to any garden. With a 5-litre watering can included, it’s a super convenient option that has all you could ask for in one place.
Buy now £375.99, Waitrose
Water Butts Direct 134L Rainwater Terrace Water Butt Planter 2 Tier in Black
Best for: extra growing space
Dimensions: Height 123cm, Width 53cm, Depth 49cm
Capacity: 134L
If you’d like to use your water butt to grow plants, too, this is the one for you.
A modular design, you can attach planters to the top and sides which are supplied with rainwater so they will continue to flourish throughout the year - and, of course, you can use what’s left to water the rest of your garden, too.
You can even check the level of available water from a nifty clear pipe on the side of each section.
Buy now £155.99, Water Butts Direct
Garden Trading 100L Water Butt
Best for: a vintage aesthetic
Dimensions: Height 100cm, Width 45cm, Depth 45cm
Capacity: 100L
Made using galvanised steel, featuring sturdy legs and a brass tap, Garden Trading’s water butt is ideal for gardens that have a more old world aesthetic. Pair it with the matching watering can to complete the look.
Buy now £250.00, Garden Trading
Water Butts Direct 250L Barrique Oak Wood Effect Water Butt Barrel
Best for: disguising your water butt as an attractive feature
Dimensions: Height 105cm, Width 60cm, Depth 60cm
Capacity: 250L
Another jumbo-sized water butt to satisfy all your water conservation desires – and remember, we did say bigger was better! This hosepipe ban buster has an oak-wood effect surface and looks convincingly like a barrel, with a lot of realistic detail, ideal if you’re going for a rustic image.
It’s made from polyethylene and weighs in at a substantial 9.8kgs, so it won’t fall about. It comes with a handsome brass 3/4” BSP tap and there’s an additional lower outlet in case you want to completely empty the barrel, as well as a child-safe lid and a bracket to attach it to a wall.
Buy now £259.99, Water Butts Direct
