Alternative space saving, small slimline water butt: BeGreen 100L Capacity Mini Rainsaver Water Butt Its sleek design means finding a space for it in the garden isn’t too much of a hassle and it remains stable on its 3 part stand. The stand itself holds the weight of the butt well, even when it is filled to capacity.
It has been made to a high standard and there are minimal complaints of leaks which is unusual :D. It is also surprisingly easy to set up thanks to ports for the filler tube already being cut in the sides – a bit of an advantage especially if you’re only replacing a water butt and filler kit. The product measures 38 width both ways and a tad over 1.2m in height with the stand. Pros: A few hours after setting up this water butt, I was rewarded with a night of heavy rain, so I was able to put it to use the very next day. Water butts offer an eco-friendly way to keep your plants hydrated. Instead of using fresh water from the tap, water butts collect and store rainwater ready for use. Also, unlike the other water butts that I reviewed, where the downfill pipe attached into the side of the water butt, this one connects via its lid . This is unusual, but neither good nor bad.

Don’t worry – installing a water butt is absolutely doable even for the least DIY active of us and I’ll take you through step by step. Before we get going though, there’s little point unless you’re organised. There’s two effective methods. If you’re old school you will want to install a water butt with standard waste pipe. The alternative is using which is probably a bit easier – installing with a water butt rain diverter kit if you already have guttering. Longevity – most water storage units are crafted to last many years when maintained correctly. This is because they are created with the intention of outdoor use, so durable plastic coatings are used. The other is uneven ground resulting in the water reaching the edge, but still a result of the height of the diverter kit. Pre-drilled holes – these make it a lot easier to set up the water butt. If holes are not pre-drilled, you will need to make a hole of around 25-30 mm to connect the water diverter. Given that most people don’t have a drill bit of this size, this can be quite a difficult process. If you want a water butt with pre-cut holes, try to find a model with several pre-cut, plugged holes on different sides of the water butt. This will give flexibility on where the diverter can be connected, and where the water butt can be positioned.The weather was forecast to be dry but very windy, so I was dubious about whether or not the water butt would stay standing. Turns out, I was wrong to doubt it – it may not seem very stable, but it held up to windy conditions for about a week before it started to collect rainwater, after which it became even sturdier.

If the water butt does not come with pre-cut holes for the diverter, you will have to make these yourself. Measure approx. 10 cm down from the top of the water butt, on the side facing the downpipe, and mark where the hole will go. Use a hole saw with the correct size bit (as per the water butt instructions) to create the hole. It’s easy to see why this water butt appeals to such a wide range of people. It’s sleek enough to sit inconspicuously in the corner of small gardens, yet it’s also slim enough to be lined up in a row of connected water butts to contribute to a larger water storage system. It’s one of the best water butts if you’re after a slimline design. Runners up: Rainsaver Mini 100 litre Green Water Butt Double Kit and the Strata pro Ward 250L Slimline Water Butt [personally tested and proven with full installation of water butt and gutter guide]

Plants often thrive better when water from a butt is used because the temperature is ambient (similar to the surrounding environment), as opposed to tap water which is often much colder.

The water diverter connects to the downpipe of a drainage system. It diverts some of the run-off rainwater away from the main drainage route and into the water butt.

800L SuDS Rainwater Attenuation Tank

This water butt’s biggest draw is its slimline design . Not only does this mean that it doesn’t take up much room, but it also gives it a sleeker look , as opposed to the larger and chunkier water butts out there. However, its compact construction does also mean that its storage capacity is limited to 100 litres – whether or not this is enough for you will depend on what you need a water butt for. You need to make sure that your water butt is protected against the elements. In the winter, you can use materials like bubble wrap to insulate it to stop ice forming. However, ideally you want to invest in a water butt made from UV- resistant materials. The good news is that all of our Water butts come with a UV protected coating, giving you peace of mind when bad weather strikes. One design feature that I particularly appreciated was the child-safe, spring-loaded fastening clip on the lid . Some of the other water butts that I tested required a screwdriver to open the lid, so the fact that you can peek inside this one without any tools required is a bonus.