Water butt in direct sunlight - will it smell?!

[MartinBraidwood]

Hi,
I'm looking at installing a water butt in my garden. My house faces due south and is a terrace. This means the only place I can install one is on a south facing wall, in direct sunlight.

Is this likely to mean that it will start to smell as bacteria begins to develop? I was thinking of getting one like this: http://www.yorkshire.savewater.co.u...oudburst_Water_Butt_Kit,_95_litre,_Green.html

 

[merlin50]

only if you put water in it

 

[MartinBraidwood]

only if you put water in it

Well, that's good to know

Perhaps I could start a craze for empty water butts? Fill it in with concrete or something?

...back on topic, will it smell if it's filled with water and in sunlight?

 

[merlin50]

The water will smell, the butt will not smell, the smell from the water will only be noticed if you remove the lid or drain water off

 

[MartinBraidwood]

The water will smell, the butt will not smell, the smell from the water will only be noticed if you remove the lid or drain water off

That's fine, I can cope with that. I imagine there will be some treatments available to put in it too, if it gets really bad.

 

[Susiejb]

....obviously be careful what you put in it if you are going to water plants
...we have loads of them (due to large pond which need refilling and extortionate water rates in the South West....but that's another story ) never had problem with them... and they are facing all directions.
Just use the water in it as often you can....any water left to stand too long will go stagnant.

 

[Stivino]

We've never had any smell from any water butt, not a whiff.

 

[MartinBraidwood]

Thanks for your replies. Feel much more confident about getting one installed now

 

[ToolbeltDandy]

You can buy silver things to put in to reduce growth. Copper is also supposed to work though so I would just throw in a few copper coins. My supervisor uses them in a cell culture incubator to save buying chemicals.

 

[MartinBraidwood]

Thanks again. I'm looking to get one ordered soon.