Allotments 4 All

In the light of the hospipe bans, OH and I have decided to fully equip our house with water butts.

Can anyone tell me the cheapest place to buy water butts and how much I should be paying for them?

I'm in Hertfordshire if anyone can suggest somewhere local to buy them.

Don't know what water authority you come under, but they might be able to sell you water butts. Some links are:
http://www.getcomposting.com/thames/index2.htm
http://www.3valleys.co.uk/water_butt/water_butt_offer.htm
http://www.waterbuttsdirect.co.uk/

My post has disappeared??

I said don't necessarily go for cheap - make sure you have a BIG EASY tap - or can adapt one - and, if possible, with a hose connector.

Also check you local council's website to see if they have any discounted like they have compost bins.

search for IBC 1000l water tanks about £30 on ebay

eek!  :o Possibly a bit big for my back garden - but a good buy for allotmenteers perhaps  ;D

I think the hertfordshire CC's composting scheme seems to be the best bet so far - a 200l water butt, plus stand and drainpipe diverter for £30, plus £5 p&p

http://www.getcomposting.com/herts/

If you are in the Thames Water area, this site is worth a look:

http://www.getcomposting.com/thames/index2.htm

Hi

200L butt from Wickes £22, looks like lid and tap inc, but no stand.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/content/ebiz/wickes/images/pdf/bookletmar06.pdf
(page 22).

hope this helps

G

I've just ordered a third 190 litre butt from blackwall (complete with stand, child safe lid and rainwater diverter) - doing a deal for South West Water customers buy one for £29.95 and get a 220 litre home composter free.  Good deal I reckon.

Alison

My Water Pump arrived yesterda.  Much excitement.

Except that it wasn't a butt water pump!!

So, another week to wait.

I would love to install these in my garden, but as I am located in Ireland, I am finding hard to source these here. Anyone else out there in the Cork region who might know where I can find them? I am very jealous of you lucky people in Britain, your councils seem to make this equipment available to you! My council only made compost bins available in the last few years.

I suppose my only choice is B & Q?

Niamh

Turned out that most of our local DIY shops had sold out of water butts (B&Q said there was a national shortage)  ::) - so OH decided that he could make one instead.

So -

one plastic dustbin (only 80L but as it will be being fed from the greenhouse roof it shouldn't fill that quickly)

one water butt tap (with integral rubber seal)

two short lengths of white indoor plastic plumbing pipe (40mm)

one elbow joint for piping

one hacksaw

one drill with assorted large drillbits

4 breeze blocks

...

And miraculously it works!

Admittedly, the green bin, with white piping coming off an aluminium greenhouse and standing on 4 breeze blocks isn't the most aesthetically pleasing sight in the garden, but it is environmentally friendly, and OH was mightily pleased with his achievement (is now talking about saving all the water from the house and developing a filtration system to remove the detergents)

So just the house downpipes to divert now and we should be well sorted for water (if it ever rains!)

This site may be of interest. I order a barrel from them yesterday and it has already been delivered.

Very helpful on the phone and a large choice.

Jerry
(No connection other than a satisfied customer.)

Jerry I can't see the site reference - can you post again please? ::)

I'm kicking myself, was in the country on Monday and lady at the garden centre couldn't find the price for big blue water butts ('my husband has it all in his head'). She offered me one for £12, and I went away to think about it. grrrrr  :-\

Doh....sorry

http://www.smithsofthedean.co.uk/

Jerry

What a great site jerry, thank you :o :). Looks like the price for the blue ones in Downham Market might be right after all, off there again this weekend for a look see 8)

These ones cost 5 pounds each (45gal/200L) in Diss, South Norfolk. Buyer collects.

200L butt from Wickes £22, looks like lid and tap inc, but no stand.

have just got one of these, very good value.  didn't get a stand - not spending money when i've got old bricks.

only problem is i have no gutters as i have no shed (yet). am going to put some wire mesh over the top instead.

if anyone lives in the Woking area, our Wickes have just got a new delivery in - apparently they can't get hold of them quick enough

MIKEB, WHAT A BARGAIN, NO WONDER YOU BOUGHT 6.