The water supply in the garden is crucial for magnificent plants and a good harvest. Rainwater reduces costs. Learn how a water butt hose connector facilitates water collection and distribution.

In a nutshell

  • Rainwater replaces expensive drinking water in the garden
  • Hose connections allow several barrels to be connected
  • Hose connection facilitates water extraction and irrigation of the beds

collect rainwater

Did you know that an average of 750 liters of rain falls per square meter in Germany every year? If your roof area is 100 square meters, you can collect 75,000 liters of rainwater. That's enough even for a large garden.
By using rainwater you save money and contribute to the protection of natural resources.
Rain barrels stand next to the gutter and catch the water. Rain collectors that are inserted into the downpipe are easy to install. Alternatively, the downpipe can be shortened to collect rainwater and placed in the rain barrel. This variant leads to a higher yield than using a rain collector, as the water can run unhindered into the barrel.

Hose connection for water extraction

Filling the watering cans with the rain barrel requires a lot of effort in a large garden. After all, watering cans hold an average of eight liters of water. A hose connection can make water extraction easier.

Manual:

  • Material: Hose connection with seals and lock nut
  • Tool: core drill
  • Use the crown drill to drill a hole in the water butt that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hose.
  • Place the drill hole so that a bucket or watering can can be conveniently placed underneath.
  • Put the hose in the bin.
  • Seal both sides with gaskets.

By the way, various hose connection sets are available from specialist retailers:

  • straight hose connection with internal or external thread
  • Bent hose connection (overflow bend) with internal or external thread

The sets enable the connection of a hose or a tap to extract rainwater.

Tip: If you connect a garden hose to the water butt, you can direct the water to the beds. Removal is made easier if the bin is well filled and placed on a pedestal.

If the water barrel is on a pedestal, the watering can can be easily placed under the tap.

Connect rain barrels

A single rain barrel is usually not enough. Water tanks that are embedded in the ground offer more storage capacity.
Connecting water butts is a good option when there isn't enough floor space for large water butts or tanks. Several water butts are combined like a series connection. They don't even have to be very close together. Even small distances can be covered with a hose.
The water runs from the downpipe into the first barrel. The water flows through one hose to the next, etc. Connection hoses complete with seals and screw caps on both sides are commercially available.

Notice: Setting up too few rain barrels is a pure waste! Overflowing water can also lead to waterlogging and damage to the masonry and neighboring plants.

Manual:

  • Material: Connection hose with seals and screw connections on both sides
  • Tool: core drill
If the hose is attached to the lower part, both barrels are filled equally.
  • Place the rain barrels in the desired location.
  • About 10 centimeters below the edge, mark the places where the bins are to be connected with a hose.
  • Drill holes in the water butts to be connected. The drill holes must be exactly at the same height.
  • Align the barrels precisely.
  • Push the connecting hose through the opposite holes.
  • Screw the lock nuts inside the drums tightly onto the hose ends.

frequently asked Questions

Are the bins connected at the top or bottom?

If you want to use the hose connection to prevent the bins from overflowing, you should connect them to bins of about the same size in the upper area. When the first barrel is full and the connection is reached, the second barrel is automatically filled.
Connecting the hose connection in the lower area causes the water butts to fill evenly. Hose connections in the lower area make it easier to empty the bins before winter.

What is the average water requirement in the garden?

As a rule of thumb, you need 20 liters of water per week for one square meter. A 500 square meter garden uses around 200,000 liters of water per year for 20 summer weeks. Even in small allotment gardens, it is worth collecting rainwater and using it for irrigation.

Why does no water get into the connected water butt?

If the level is lower than the connection between the rain barrels, water will not get into the second. Even if the connection is blocked by leaves or dirt, the water cannot flow. Clean the hose connection and cover the bins to protect against dirt.

Is an ordinary garden hose suitable for connecting rain barrels?

That is possible. However, we recommend using a flexible hose to connect. Slight movements of a barrel are then possible without damaging the connection.

Which place is suitable for setting up rain barrels?

A location on the downspout of the gutter ensures the greatest yield. The barrel should stand on a solid surface. Strong sunlight affects the water quality. Cover the rain barrels with appropriate lids to prevent dirt and protect pets.

Category:

Garden design