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How to build a water butt

Catch free rainwater from a roof. It saves on the water bill, it's there when there's a hosepipe ban, and plants like it better than tap water - blueberries most of all.

• DifficultyEasy
• Time1 hour
• Size200 litres
• Rough costabout £62

What you need

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Tools

• Hacksaw
• Drill with a hole saw (the kit says what size)
• Tape measure and pencil
• Spirit level

Step by step

1. Pick a downpipe near your beds. Clear a spot right next to it and make it flat and level.
2. Build a stand from concrete blocks (or use a ready-made stand) so a watering can fits under the tap. Check it's level - a full butt weighs 200kg.
3. Stand the butt on it and mark the downpipe level with the top of the butt.
4. Following the kit's instructions, cut a short section out of the downpipe at the mark with a hacksaw, and fit the diverter in the gap.
5. Drill the butt where the kit says, push in the connector and join it to the diverter with the hose. Lid on. When the butt's full, the rain carries on down the pipe.

Tips

• Always keep the lid on - it's safer for children and keeps mosquitoes and leaves out.
• Link two butts with a connector kit to store twice as much.
• Clean it out once a year, in winter.