Water Butts

Climate change is creating more frequent, severe weather conditions – hotter, dryer summers and warmer, wetter winters with 20-50% more rain.

Our weather patterns are changing. We are experiencing hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. The hard ground after a summer dry spell means that when it rains, it runs off rather than absorbing into the ground. In winter, heavy rain runs off hard surfaces such as roofs, roads and pavements. Large amounts of rainfall can overwhelm underground drainage and sewer systems during peak storms. Living With Water is looking at alternative solutions on the surface to protect the area from flooding - and you can be a part of it…

Save around 5,000 litres of water a year by collecting rainwater in a water butt. Source: Yorkshire Water.

How do water butts help to manage surface water?

Water butts connect to your drainpipe and store water by capturing rainwater that falls on your roof. This prevents litres of excess water from entering our drains and sewers, easing pressure on our systems and helping to reduce the risk of surface water flooding.

Did you know 90,000 litres of rainwater falls on a roof in just one year?

What are the benefits of having a water butt?

• Reduces surface water flood risk
• Provides a fresh supply of rainwater - ideal for topping up ponds and washing the car
• Rainwater has more nutrients so your plants and gardens will love it
• Reduces your clean water consumption during periods of peak summer demand, lowering your bills.
• Easy to install - you can start saving straight away

One water butt can hold up to 200 litres of water, which is the same as 20 full washing up bowls.

Water butt giveaway

Living with Water are currently working in communities in Hull and Haltemprice to give away free 227ltr water butts.

Subject to availability and area, we are looking for residents who can connect up a water butt to their downpipes, to mitigate surface water flooding and save water. Following condition survey.

• All waterbutts must be connected to plastic downpipes
• They can only be installed on level ground
• We only complete installations on weekdays, so residents are asked to be in to accept the the waterbutt

In you are interested, simply fill in the form below to be considered.

Unfortunately, we are unable to install water butts on metal downpipes.

Here are some that we have installed already