As the harvested water doesn’t contain chlorine or other cleaning chemicals that are normally used to sanitise tap water, a rain water diverter also provides an excellent source of hydration for the garden as well as indoor and outdoor plants, lawns, allotments, wildlife and pets. This can be useful across all areas of the UK as a result of the increasing pressure on water resources due to climate change and a growing population, and it’s particularly beneficial in areas where hosepipe bans are often implemented following two consecutively dry seasons.

The first thing you need to do is decide between fitting your water butt as a downspout replacement or using a rainwater diverter. Once you’ve completed the downspout cut, you then need to drill a hole in the water butt. This hole needs to:Let's not forget the old faithful watering can that's found in just about every garden in the UK - we feature several types of plastic and gavanised metal cans to cater for all your trips from you butt to your flower beds and greenhouse. Here we list the main types of water butts available and the variety of challenges each style may pose. Whether you go for a slimline or designer butt, all water butts should be sold with a lid. Water butts without lids can pose a drowning hazard to children, pets and wildlife, while open butts can breed bacteria due to debris entering the butt. If you have children, you should also invest in a water butt with a child-safe lid. How to Install a Water Butt Pump Step 1: Downspout Replacement or Rainwater Diverter To prevent water butt overflow, ensure the correct fitting or installation of an overflow mechanism, regularly maintain and clean the water butt and surrounding area, monitor rainfall levels, consider using a rainwater diverter kit, and use water efficiently. Ensure your water butt is placed on level ground, as this helps prevent instability and potential tipping. Position it away from trees or overhanging branches that could drop debris into the butt!”

Take a close look at your water butt and familiarise yourself with its design and structure. Note the position of the inlet where rainwater enters the butt and the outlet from which you access the collected water. Step 2 – Observe the Overflowing Pattern Here's the piece of ket PP. Now that I've looked at this image I think the internal channel is maybe higher up the connector than I first thought. Maybe I just need to drop it slightly, whilst maintaining a 'fall' enough in the pipe that it will flow into the butt. Small margins between it working 'correctly' and not maybe? If your water butt didn't come with a stand, or you made a do-it-yourself butt from an old plastic wheelie bin or other suitable container, there's the option to buy a stand separately. A stand is crucial to allow you fill a watering can or other water carrier below the tap on a butt. It will also help to create a tad more water pressure by way of gravitational force. Alternatively, for areas with higher than average rainfall or after a heavy rain event, rainwater diverters work to reduce the amount of water being directed into the ground drainage system around a home or property, which in turn can minimise flooding and ground saturation across nearby gardens. Fitting a Rainwater Diverter The most common reason that I see people’s water butts overflowing is that their rainwater diverter is placed too high on the drainpipe – The height of the diverter must not be higher than the max fill line of your water butt! Step 5 – Determine the Need for Diverter Installation

If your water butt doesn’t have an overflow mechanism, it is crucial to install one. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided with an overflow kit to fit an overflow outlet or pipe at an appropriate height.