There are various accessories which can support your water-harvesting efforts - a submersible electric pump, for example, will allow you to get more pressurised water from your container. 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

Most water butts come with all the essential parts, instructions and basic accessories to get you up and running - but there are plenty of other handy extras you can buy to really get the best out of your new water harvesting container. So, if you’re tired of watching the April showers drain away before being hit with hosepipe bans in May and June, then this guide will help you save money and harness the water that falls on your land. Remember to regularly maintain and clean your water butt, inspecting it along with the gutters and downpipes for any obstructions. By taking these proactive measures, you can ensure optimal functionality, avoid unnecessary water waste, and harness the full potential of rainwater for your gardening needs. Conclusion During heavy rainfall, you can take several steps to prevent overflow, such as diverting water away from the water butt, using multiple water butts to distribute the load, or using a rainwater diverter kit that automatically redirects excess water to a suitable drainage area. There are a few reasons that your water butt may be overflowing. 1. Insufficient Overflow MechanismThe 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 you’re using a downspout installation, you will need to install an overflow pipe. This is a pipe that will allow water to overflow into the drain. You should have an overflow pipe supplied with your water butt. Follow the instructions supplied with your water butt for this installation. In most cases, this will be a simple case of attaching the pipe to the corresponding overflow hole.

A standard water butt is about 1 metre tall and half a metre wide with a tank capacity of 210 litres. You can choose between downspout replacement installation, which means your water butt would sit under a garden shed, garage or house with the downspout flowing directly into the water butt. In this case, you would need to install an overflow pipe to prevent water flooding in the event of heavy rain. Alternatively, you can also choose to install a rainwater diverter. This will divert a portion of the water from the downspout while also preventing the risk of flooding. 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. 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.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 The first thing you need to do is decide between fitting your water butt as a downspout replacement or using a rainwater diverter.