Are water butts worth it?

[TheBloomingDahlia]

I have a fairly thirsty garden with quite a few pots and for the last few years we’ve had a hose pipe ban for 5-6 months of the year. So I’m considering a water butt, but are they actually useful for dry summers? Do the showers fill them up enough that it’s a helpful amount, or is it just that the free water is a “bonus” alongside using the tap?

Yes in theory, if they have a good drain pipe run off to them. We have 3 and a thirsty garden and use them all across the hosepipe ban here.

Just make sure the gutter they link to gets water. When we moved here, someone had put one on a shed under a tree so it barely caught any rain water.

Yes, I have one filled from the garage roof. It is usually full and I use it to water first before using tap. Mine is small and we don’t have waterbans but I would get a big one which should really help.

Mine fills over the winter period and keeps me going to about now. Thinking of connecting two more so I make it through the summer. I also run the cold water, while waiting for it come hot, into milk bottles. It's amazing how that builds up. I don't use the hose and have lots of pots.