A Rainwater butt offers far more benefits than considering just their possible savings on metered water bills. Collecting rainwater for our gardens offers many advantages during periods of dry weather. Read on to find out more >>

Investing in a water butt is primarily about reducing our mains water usage thereby benefiting the environment. Predictions also suggest that periods of water shortage may also be on the increase.

The majority of daily water consumption is within the home but during dry periods in Spring and Summer that changes as many start watering their gardens with a hosepipe and washing cars, garden furniture and patios.

Benefits of a rainwater butt:

• Rainwater has no minerals or chemicals added to it so it is much ‘kinder’ to plants than tap water
• Lowers the demands on mains water supplies
• If you are on a water meter, collecting rainwater can reduce your monthly bills during the peak summer season when gardens need water most
• Reduces rainwater runoff flowing into our drains
• Simple to install into any size garden (where there is a down pipe, there is the opportunity of installing a water butt)
• Availability of water during periods of drought and a hose-pipe ban

According to an article ‘Understanding how rainwater can be harvested using maths’ on the BBC, for every mm of rain that falls on a square meter or roof we get a litre of water. Use this calculation for the average house roof and you could collect around 24, 000 litres for your garden each year. This water can be put to good use in helping to maintain a lush garden even during periods of drought.

There are many different types and styles of water butts on the market from traditional green barrels to decorative ones. They are also available in different sizes to suit the space you have available. The average size is around 250 litres capacity but you can go as small as 100 litres or as large as 700 litres.

A rain butt is easy to fit. They either come with a down pipe connector or it is an optional extra when placing your order. This connector attaches the downpipe to the water butt to collect rainwater from our roofs.

A mesh guard installed over the gutter will help to keep the collected water clean and free of debris. There is also the availability of water purification tablets to prevent the growth of algae during periods when there isn’t much movement of water into or out of the butt.

Liners Online stock three types of decorative Rainwater butt ranging in size from 185 to 245 litres:

• The Madison Rain Barrel with optional integral water fountain holds 185 Litres and is available in Sandstone or Millstone colours. They are manufactured from Roto molded plastic, which means it won’t chip, crack or fade in extreme weather conditions. The attached hose on the butt enables easy access for filling a watering can. The optional built-in submersible pump generates sufficient water pressure to directly water the garden. Simply connect a standard garden hose to the fountainhead to allow for pressurised watering.
• The Agua rainwater butt is a decorative 190 litre barrel manufactured in the UK. Features include an outlet with an attached 130cm garden hose to water nearby plants or fill a watering can. Also includes a nozzle with shut-off valve, over-flow spout and a corrosion proof screen-guard. Direct your downpipe straight into the top or attach with an optional downpipe diverter. The butt also features an integrated planter or bird bath
• The Cascata decorative 245 Litre water butt is manufactured in the UK. Features include an outlet with an attached 180cm garden hose to water nearby plants or fill a watering can. Also includes a nozzle with shut-off valve, over-flow spout and a corrosion proof screen-guard. Direct your downpipe straight into the top or attach with an optional downpipe diverter. The butt also features an integrated planter or bird bath. Made of high-quality plastic, this butt actually looks like real clay.