10th February 2025
Climate change is triggering more extreme weather conditions including heavy rain and flooding. Water butts are great in the summer to help tide us over dry spells when plants need watering, but they can also be useful in slowing the flow of water into the drains.
It needs a bit of thinking but if we allow water butts to drain slowly after heavy rain into the drains, then they can be a temporary store for excess water next time it rains – a sort of mini water meadow or overflow reservoir. One precaution that is needed is that empty water butts are easily blown over in strong winds so you may want to put some bricks in the bottom of the water butt or tie the butt to something solid.
For more info – https://www.preventionweb.net/news/if-more-houses-had-water-butts-it-could-help-drought-flooding-and-water-pollution
Or Local Authority web sites – eg https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/environmental-services/flooding/flooding-prevention-reporting-information/why-have-water-butt
The Green Tau 