Water Butts. A good thing?

[LovelyGirlCompetition]

Hi. Would love to hear opinions from people who have a water butt. Thinking of getting one. Is it wonderful, easy and a good useful garden addition or a stagnant, fly ridden waste of time? Thanks

Contessa
We need a video of the rain chain.

It's not raining at the moment so I can't do a video (and probably wouldn't manage to focus it if it was raining and I tried) but there are loads of videos on YouTube. A lot of them have expensive copper chains, but the scrap value of copper makes them very tempting to thieves and they are dead easy to nick. My chain of rusty little iron buckets (made in China about 13 years ago and still going strong) goes with the oxidised wrought iron plant supports in the rest of the garden.

Here's a youtube video of different rain chains in action.

We don’t have an outside tap and our garden is in levels due to the terrain, so we have a butt at the top of the garden and one at the bottom. Wouldn’t be without them and wish I had room for 2 more. They have lids and are attached to the down pipes on the conservattory and a shed. If we have a lot of dry days in a row then I run out, but that’s not happened very often.

The water will be murky green/brown and stinky if it stagnates.

Oh....
I haven't had that, but I do just tip them out completely once in a while. All sorts organic stuff in bottom. If I had filter, presumably keeping that filter clean would just be a more frequent mucky job.

Adding oil to top sounds like way to make it a lot mankier, tbh.

@lljkk

The water will be murky green/brown and stinky if it stagnates.

Oh....
I haven't had that, but I do just tip them out completely once in a while. All sorts organic stuff in bottom. If I had filter, presumably keeping that filter clean would just be a more frequent mucky job.

Adding oil to top sounds like way to make it a lot mankier, tbh.

Yeah, I tend to assume that the bug life and plant matter provide extra nutrients.

I’ve never understood why people who have the space don’t have water butts! It’s much better for your plants, cheaper, and better for the environment. Same goes for compost heaps.

I read a case a while ago of legionella in a water butt which became an issue when used with a hosepipe as it made a mist which is how that bacteria spreads.

Since then I have only used a hosepipe/pump if it's very fresh, not after more than 5 days dry.

@lljkk

The water will be murky green/brown and stinky if it stagnates.

Oh....
I haven't had that, but I do just tip them out completely once in a while. All sorts organic stuff in bottom. If I had filter, presumably keeping that filter clean would just be a more frequent mucky job.

Adding oil to top sounds like way to make it a lot mankier, tbh.

Just a tablespoon of cooking oil (olive oil/ vegetable) per water butt. I’ve never had the water go stagnant but I do use the foot of a pair of tights as a filter on the down pipe to catch any crud before it reaches the butt

Is there an issue with the water getting stagnant? Plants will still get hydrated if watered with it surely. Unless you are loitering by it for ages any smell is not a problem as it's outside. Same for mozzies. We've got three: one from the garage, one at the front & one at the back. They were there when we moved in years ago & we just then ad & when.

My cats much prefer to drink the water out of the water butts so I keep an old black builders bucket with an old hanging basket across it and which I keep topped up for them.
The hanging basket to to stop any smaller animal stopping by for a drink falling in and drowning plus one of my cats is stupid and would probably try to jump in and sit in the bucket.

We have one attached to our garage. DH uses it all the time to clean his car and bike, and I use it to water my always thirsty pots. Been there 2 years and never an issue with stagnant water.

2 here, linked together, I have finally had success in my garden since I’ve been using them rather than tap water. The plants love it.

Couldn't do without one. I've just replaced a large wide single butt with two smaller slimmer ones. Am hoping I've got the levels right and that they don't overflow. I've never had any problems with stagnant water or mozzies (need to keep a lid on the butt obvs). As others have said, no idea why anyone doesn't do this.

@Stealhsquirrelnutkin

Thanks for the link.
Like the idea of your galvanized ones better. Are they full size buckets?

I inherited a water butt when I moved a year ago. I haven't had any issues with stagnant water. I emptied it a few weeks ago to moved it and the inside was clean and odour free. When I fill my water can up it's clear water that comes out. Great for the garden. That's my experience so far.

If you have a lid on the water butt, you won't get green algae - they need light to photosynthesise, just like plants. And you won't get mosquito larvae either. I've had water butts in action for well over 10 years with no problems.

My DGM had a water butt, it never seemed to have stagnant water in it, it was used regularly to water plants in hot spells.