210 litre Water Butt, complete with stand, filler & tap

Product Information

You need to make sure that your water butt is protected against the elements. In the winter, you can use materials like bubble wrap to insulate it to stop ice forming. However, ideally you want to invest in a water butt made from UV- resistant materials. The good news is that all of our Water butts come with a UV protected coating, giving you peace of mind when bad weather strikes. Another important consideration when it comes to size is: can a watering can fit underneath the tap?

After initially setting up this plastic water butt, it felt a little wobbly. Mine was standing on rough ground, and even though I had levelled this out before setting the water butt up, the legs didn’t quite seem as though they would hold up to the job. The set-up process for this water butt was pretty standard, taking around 15 minutes . You connect the legs, create the necessary holes in your drain pipe and water butt (there are indents that show you where to drill) and then fit the various pipes. Water butts come in a range of sizes. Naturally, having a small water butt is better than none, so even a 100 L model can be useful, especially in small gardens. 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. Plants often thrive better when water from a butt is used because the temperature is ambient (similar to the surrounding environment), as opposed to tap water which is often much colder.One thing to keep in mind is that all of the connections for this water butt fit pretty tightly together – in many ways, this is a good thing, but it does also mean that you’ll need to use a fair bit of strength to connect it all. However, for more heavy-duty use, go for a larger 200-300 litre design. Don’t forget that you also have the option of connecting multiple water butts together , so long as the design of each water butt allows for this (most of the traditionally-styled ones do). For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned. 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.

Using a spirit level, measure directly across from the hole and make a mark on the downpipe. You will need to make two marks, parallel with the top and bottom of the hole you have created. Fit the rubberised splash seal to the top section of pipe, then connect the diverter between the two sections. Make sure that the outlet hole is at the bottom. Then pull the splash seal down over the join. If the water butt does not come with pre-cut holes for the diverter, you will have to make these yourself. Measure approx. 10 cm down from the top of the water butt, on the side facing the downpipe, and mark where the hole will go. Use a hole saw with the correct size bit (as per the water butt instructions) to create the hole. 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.Setting up this plastic water butt takes about 15 minutes , and that includes digging to level out the ground so that the legs are standing on a flat surface. After fitting the legs together, I cut a hole in my drain pipe, then fit the rain diverter, before drilling a hole in the water butt to fit the pipe. It’s a fairly simple process that’s pretty standard across all of the water butts that I tested. 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. The weather was forecast to be dry but very windy, so I was dubious about whether or not the water butt would stay standing. Turns out, I was wrong to doubt it – it may not seem very stable, but it held up to windy conditions for about a week before it started to collect rainwater, after which it became even sturdier. To be fair, once the water butt fills with water, it doesn’t budge. However, its smaller capacity also means that it’s more likely to sit empty and unstable at times, compared to larger models.