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We often complain that there’s just too much rain in the UK. The press recently covered a drought warning, though, letting the public know that we are experiencing the driest year in almost half a century. With hosepipe bans in some parts of the country, many are worried that their gardens will suffer from the shortage of water. The solution in a drought is not simply to use less water, but also to make use of whatever water we have. There’s no excuse for letting rain water go to waste.

Collecting rain water

The easiest way to collect rain water is in a bucket. You can put these in an unsheltered part of your garden where they will collect rain. Another option is a water butt, which makes the most of rain water flowing from a down pipe.

How water butts work

Water butts are big barrels you can place near or underneath a down pipe, which is the pipe that allows water to drain from your roof. This way you will collect a lot of water, which you can simply transfer to a watering can or a smaller bucket.

Taking things a step further

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If you’re really serious about using rain water, the best thing to do is invest in a rain water harvesting system. These harvesting systems work similarly to water butts, but also filter water. Rain water harvesting systems collect water from a down pipe, which is then filtered through mesh to remove debris. You can attach the system to a tank that will store the water until you need it, and even install a pump that will recycle the water for your dishwasher or washing machine.

Rain water that you harvest can be used to wash cars, water the garden and even make your dishwasher run, but it’s important to note that you shouldn’t drink it – unless, of course, you filter it thoroughly.

Tags: gardening, irrigation system