Another benefit of water butts is that they are easy to install and use. Most water butts are designed to fit under a downpipe, allowing rainwater to flow directly into the storage tank. They also come with a tap or spigot at the bottom, allowing you to easily access the water when you need it. Some models even come with a hose or watering can attachment, making it even easier to use the collected rainwater for your gardening needs. One of the primary benefits of installing a water butt is that it allows you to collect and store rainwater for later use. This means that you can reduce your reliance on the mains water supply, which is particularly important in areas of the UK that experience frequent droughts or water shortages (think hot Cornwall). By using rainwater for activities such as watering your plants or washing your car, you can save money on your water bill and do your part to conserve water resources.

It is important to note that the rainwater collected by your water butt is not always crystal clean – in fact there are a few things you should do to mitigate the risk of damaging your plants.If you’ve set the water butt up in a very windy location, you could potentially tie a strap around it to keep it sturdy – the indents in the design should make this easy. The water diverter connects to the downpipe of a drainage system. It diverts some of the run-off rainwater away from the main drainage route and into the water butt.

There’s no denying that most of the water butts available on the market look pretty drab and boring, but the Sankey 150l Beehive Water Butt shows that this doesn’t always need to be the case. An instant attention-grabber, this water butt is easy easily one of the best water butts in terms of aethetics. One design feature that I particularly appreciated was the child-safe, spring-loaded fastening clip on the lid . Some of the other water butts that I tested required a screwdriver to open the lid, so the fact that you can peek inside this one without any tools required is a bonus. An included stand – not all water butts come with a stand, but most of the time you’ll find that one is necessary. Unless the water butt is very large and rigid, a stand should be used to protect the tank and help it stay upright. Another reason why a stand is so important is that it makes it possible to fit a watering can underneath the tap. Without a stand, the tap will generally be too close to the floor.If space isn’t too much of an issue, water butts of between 250 – 300 litres are standard size. They’re the best water butts for most domestic small/medium gardens.

Small water butts are most suited to small gardens and gardens without many plants. You may need to supplement the water from the butt with some from the mains tap if it doesn’t hold enough water for your garden. Longevity – most water storage units are crafted to last many years when maintained correctly. This is because they are created with the intention of outdoor use, so durable plastic coatings are used. With a capacity of 227 litres , this was the largest of the water butts that I tested. It’s pretty chunky in design, but the fact that it’s green means that it would blend well into a garden. The recycled plastic construction feels strong and sturdy . In fact, all of the connections that come with this water butt are noticeably tougher, more robust, and higher quality than those supplied with the other water butts I reviewed. Make sure that the guttering is clear of any debris as some guttering materials can encourage the growth of bacteria in the collected water.It’s easy to see why this water butt appeals to such a wide range of people. It’s sleek enough to sit inconspicuously in the corner of small gardens, yet it’s also slim enough to be lined up in a row of connected water butts to contribute to a larger water storage system. It’s one of the best water butts if you’re after a slimline design.