Underground water butt

i_am_fubar · 24 Apr 2009

Gentlemen (and ladies?).

I have begun the epic mission of removing 10 years of overgrowth from the garden and converting it into a functional food production space.

With the desire to use as much space as I can for growth, and the logical need for a water butt... I had a plan.

How feasible would it be to dig a really big hole, put a water but in it, but a simple filter to stop animals/dirt filling it up, and cover with patio + drain cover.

Naturally I couldn't use the bottom tap, so I can plug that up and pump from the top.

Are there any structural/legal/conceptual problems with this idea?

Sam.

EddieM · 24 Apr 2009

Perfectly possible, there are many kits for underground water storage, have a google. Don't think they are particularly cheap though.

ColJack · 24 Apr 2009

http://www.water-tanks.net/acatalog/Underground_Water_Storage_Tanks.html

JohnD · 24 Apr 2009

if the water butt is above ground level, you can fill a bucket from its tap, or put a hose on it to water the plants

if the store is below ground level you will always have to pump it.

dextrous · 25 Apr 2009

JohnD said:
if the water butt is above ground level, you can fill a bucket from its tap, or put a hose on it to water the plants

if the store is below ground level you will always have to pump it.

Unless you create an old fashion "wishing well" feature out of it and draw water with a bucket or even a wind operated pump!

xerxes · 25 Apr 2009

I have two underground and a number of above-ground tanks for storing rainwater. The underground tanks come into their own when there's a drought; then I use a portable electric pump to deliver the water directly to the vegetable garden, or to top up the above-ground tanks. However, I'm quite sure I wouldn't be able to afford the capital costs, or the labour, for the underground tanks if I didn't have them already.

There's a move to install them in some new builds nowadays, for filling lavatory cisterns and washing machines. They aren't cheap.

I think life is too short for water butts with taps in the bottom. I collect rainwater in open topped tanks with room to dip a full-sized watering can: three gallons in three seconds.

JamesA · 29 Apr 2009

Those tanks are expensive and are more for a rainwater harvesting system for flushing the loo.

I have seen those white 1000 litre tanks in a metal cage cheaper.
I believe they're ex water company tanks.
For example. theres a local farmer here who sells them.

I think if you've got a water butt on your house and one on your shed thats enough for most vegetable patches.
You can always chain 2 together.

In terms of lost space, I grow beans/peas up my shed water butt on canes so you don't lose that much space and it's also screened.

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Underground water butt

i_am_fubar

EddieM

ColJack

JohnD

dextrous

xerxes

JamesA

DIYnot Local

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