How do I Set up Water butt with steel pipes?

hollie03 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2010, 08:02 PM

We have just created two brilliant allotment areas at our Primary school. I have connected up a water butt in the one area to the plastic downpipes but need help with the other. The building is very old and has steel down pipes. There is no shed to attach guttering to. Don't know if there is any other way i could achieve this?
Greatful for any help!!!

burntfacedjake · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2010, 10:49 AM

You could link the two water butts together, so when one is full it overflows into the next one. You can buy connector kits online. Just make sure there is a slight fall in the connector pipe from the first butt into the second or it won't fill.

posie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2010, 11:51 AM

..if you are not allowed to cut the steel downpipe, would you not be allowed to replace it with a shorter one (Keeping the long one in store should it ever need to be put back) You could get one from a scrapyard?..salvage company etc...and cut it to length required, and replace the end piece to direct the water into your container....other than that you could dig a hole, sink tub in it, have a safety 'well surround' built around it with a handle to wind the bucket up, the old fashioned way....I'll get my coat

Posie

Eryri · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 11:49 AM

There is no need to cut or remove the steel downpipe if you are able to slide in your water butt at the bottom of the steel downpipe by just removing the lower wall bracket. There is also no need to make one butt higher than the other.

Siphon tubes

You then need to connect the two water butts with a re-enforced hose as the siphon effect of equalisation of water pressure will ensure that the levels of both water butts will remain the same as the water is used from your original water butt. Just make sure your siphon pipe is located at the bottom of both water butts, and prime. It's only the tap you use to draw off water that needs to be at a higher elevation than both ends of the siphon connector.

bigdave60dog · #5 (**permalink**) 14-07-2010, 11:09 AM

Yeah, Good idea to give it a try but it`s always best to check these thing before you fit a system. You did not need me to tell you this. I was thinking that most of us go for an option that we have seen working in other situations rather than to look at every aspect before we start. (Me incuded in this). Could you recycle some kitchen water intstead? would the Local Authority help you in your quest? How many boxes does your project tick toward achieving some preset gaols etc. It`s not abig deal to adapt guttering but we are talking local authorities here which makes it abig deal. You really do need to think laterally in this.