What Is the Free Water Butt Programme?
The Free Water Butt Programme is a community initiative designed to make rainwater harvesting accessible to every household. Through the programme, eligible households receive a complete water butt kit at no cost, including the butt, stand, diverter kit, and hose connector. The programme is funded through a combination of local authority partnerships, environmental grants, and corporate sponsorship, enabling us to offer water butts completely free of charge to qualifying households.
Water butts are the simplest form of rainwater harvesting, capturing water from the downpipe of a roof gutter and storing it for use in the garden. A standard 200-litre water butt can collect enough water from an average roof to meet all garden watering needs during summer months, significantly reducing mains water consumption and keeping water bills lower.
The programme is part of our wider commitment to making sustainable water management accessible to everyone. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in water conservation, regardless of their financial circumstances. By removing the cost barrier, we enable more households to experience the benefits of rainwater harvesting and contribute to a more sustainable water future for the UK.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility for the Free Water Butt Programme varies depending on the specific funding arrangements in your area. In general, the programme is available to households in partner local authority areas where funding has been secured. Priority is typically given to households that meet one or more of the following criteria: households on low incomes or receiving means-tested benefits, households with children, households in areas at risk of water stress or flooding, and households that have not previously received a water butt through the programme.
We are working to expand the programme to cover all UK households over time. If the programme is not currently available in your area, we encourage you to register your interest so that we can notify you when funding becomes available. We also welcome expressions of interest from local authorities and community organisations that would like to partner with us to bring the programme to their area.
Even if you are not eligible for a free water butt, we offer a range of affordable water butts and rainwater harvesting products for purchase, with discounts available for community groups and bulk orders.
What You Receive
Each free water butt kit includes everything you need to start collecting rainwater. The kit contains a 200-litre capacity water butt manufactured from UV-stabilised recycled plastic, a sturdy raised stand that provides sufficient height to fill watering cans, a rainwater diverter that connects to your downpipe and directs water into the butt, a flexible hose connector, and a child-proof lockable lid for safety. Full installation instructions are included, and most households can install the kit themselves in under an hour using basic DIY tools.
For households that require assistance with installation, we can arrange for a trained installer to visit and fit the water butt at a subsidised rate. This service is particularly helpful for elderly residents, people with disabilities, or those who are not confident with DIY tasks.
Environmental Impact
Every water butt installed through the programme makes a measurable contribution to water conservation. A single 200-litre water butt can collect up to 5,000 litres of rainwater per year, depending on roof area and local rainfall patterns. When multiplied across hundreds or thousands of households, the collective impact is substantial. Our programme targets installing 10,000 water butts annually, which would capture 50 million litres of rainwater that would otherwise enter the drainage network.
Beyond water conservation, the programme delivers additional environmental benefits. By reducing demand for treated mains water, each water butt helps reduce the energy consumed in water treatment and distribution, lowering carbon emissions. Capturing rainwater also reduces the volume of surface water runoff entering drains and watercourses, helping to alleviate pressure on drainage infrastructure and reduce the risk of localised flooding.
Households that participate in the programme often become more conscious of their water use and adopt additional water-saving behaviours. Many go on to install larger rainwater harvesting systems, further amplifying the environmental benefits of the programme.
How to Apply
Applying for the Free Water Butt Programme is straightforward. Visit our online application page and enter your postcode to check if the programme is available in your area. If it is, you will be guided through a simple application form that takes approximately five minutes to complete. We will confirm your eligibility and, if approved, arrange for your water butt to be delivered to your address or made available for collection at a local distribution point.
If the programme is not yet available in your area, you can register your interest and we will contact you when it becomes available. We also encourage you to speak to your local councillor or MP about bringing the programme to your community.
Partner With Us
We are actively seeking partners to help expand the Free Water Butt Programme to more communities across the UK. Local authorities, housing associations, community groups, and businesses can all play a role in bringing free water butts to their communities. Partners can contribute funding, distribution networks, or promotional support, with recognition and reporting provided for their contribution.
If your organisation is interested in partnering with us on the Free Water Butt Programme, please get in touch with our partnerships team. We will work with you to design a programme that meets the needs of your community and fits within your budget and resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water can I collect? A 200-litre water butt connected to a typical roof downpipe can fill and empty multiple times during a wet period. In an average UK summer, a single water butt can provide sufficient water for all garden watering needs, with mains water only needed during extended dry periods.
Is the water safe for plants? Rainwater is naturally soft and free of the chemicals added to mains water, making it ideal for garden irrigation. Most plants prefer rainwater to tap water, and many gardeners report better growth and health when using rainwater for their plants.
Can I connect multiple water butts? Yes, water butts can be linked together using connecting kits to increase storage capacity. Many households start with a single free water butt and add additional butts over time as they experience the benefits.
What maintenance is required? Water butts require minimal maintenance. We recommend cleaning the filter in the diverter periodically and giving the butt a thorough clean once a year. In winter, we advise draining the butt or insulating it to prevent frost damage.