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Frequently Asked Questions
Which parts make up a water butt?
A container, a diverter and a tap.
Nothing else at all.
No pump and no controls.
No filtration to speak of.
And no connection to the plumbing.
How much pressure does it give?
Only what its height provides.
Enough to fill a watering can.
Generally not enough for a hose.
Raising it on blocks helps.
And makes a can fit underneath.
Is the water safe for anything edible?
Not for drinking, and be cautious otherwise.
It is unfiltered roof water.
Standing in daylight, growing algae.
Fine for ornamental watering.
Not for a fish pond or salad crops.
How can it be kept cleaner?
Opaque, and in shade.
Light is what drives algal growth.
A pale butt in full sun turns green.
A dark one in shade stays clear far longer.
The choice costs nothing at installation.
Where should the overflow go?
Back into the downpipe.
Below the diverter, so it bypasses the butt.
Not down the wall.
Which soaks the foundation.
The downpipe was draining.
What happens in winter?
A full butt can freeze and split.
So it is drained before hard frost.
Or the diverter is closed.
It is an annual habit.
Rather than a design problem.
Can two be joined together?
Yes, linked at the base.
So they fill and empty as one.
Which multiplies volume.
Without a larger container.
Or a taller one to reach under.