Water Butts….waste of money?

jawa1

Ok now I know using water butt to store rain water and use on the garden is good for water saving consummation but on the financial side are they good value for money?

100 litre water butt cost £24.95

1 Cubic meter of water is about 85 pence

So if you used your water butt from full to empty 10 times it would cost you 85 pence.

So if my calculations are correct to cover the cost of your water butt it would take about 290 full to empty uses.

blindman

235 Litres at £27.00

scissors_3

Try Wicks for water butts, a lot cheaper. Also rainwater has'nt had all the plant friendly nutrients taken out like the treated tap water. :think:

localshop

scissors wrote:

Try Wicks for water butts, a lot cheaper. Also rainwater has'nt had all the plant friendly nutrients taken out like the treated tap water. :think:

If my rainwater had more stuff in it than tap water then I'd move - quickly.

Xbigman

As I live in a mid terraced property with no down pipes from the guttering I can't have a rain butt without paying another £50 to instal a down pipe, so thats definately not worth it.
Regards



X

Xbigman

OK. I managed to get a water butt (255 litre) coming off the garage roof costing 30.37 including downpipe.

Numbers then are.

1000 litre of water 73p but with sewage costs added are 1.97. So round figures, water butt fill up costs 50p. I need 61 water butts of water to make a profit. I use the butt to water the garden and to wash the car so I can realisticly use 1 butt a month average. Pays for itself in five years (not allowing for ridiculous water price inflation).

Is it worth it?

Financially, only in the long term.
Organicly, yes because rainwater is better for the garden.
Morally, yes you are conserving water.
Regards



X

in_my_wellies

Our council sell water butts for £5 delivered. Check with yours.

Tommy_C_2

Some good priced water butts here:
http://www.bakersandlarners.com/catalog/catalog/default.php/cPath/42_112

I think they are a good idea to send to someone as a gift.

black-saturn

I don't know where you are based but some water companies will provide a water butt for free. Contact your local water authority and ask.

Xbigman

My area is wessex water, a useless company who's website does not mention water butt suppliers at all.

Anyway, now the rainy season is here my water butt has been overflowing so I have now started using the water butt water to 'flush' the toilet. I have gotten into a routine where I get up and take a (now empty) bucket downstairs and leave it by the back door. When I get home from work I take it upstairs (now full) and I get two 'flushes' out of it. I might need to fill it up during the day if on a day off but so far I've not used used mains water to flush the toilet for 3 days. There must be a way to simplify this without spending huge amounts of money but all the commercial water recycling systems are set up in the loft and dear as hell. I'll come up with something eventually but has anyone else got any idea's?

Meanwhile. I kept a water diary and my biggest sin was the way I do the washing up. I tend to leave the tap running whilst I do it, so I can rinse the bubbles off the plates, etc and leave them to dry on their own. By washing everything then rinsing off with a second bowl of cold water and then drying I reckon I use half the water.
Regards



X

chateau42

South West Water, £3.247/cu.m. (water £1.1061 plus sewerage 95% of £2.2537). (For info. standing charge £28.04/annum.) Probably highest charges in the country.

I have 4 water butts and a large dustbin. Expecting 10-15% rise early 2006, similar to this year. Certainly worth it for us.