Hogshead Water Garden

Rainwater barrels have the option of having a brass tap fitted near the bottom of the barrel. Brass taps are available in three different styles. The frog tap version includes a screw-on hose-tail to which a length of garden hose may be attached.

Oak barrel butts are also available fitted with wooden barrel taps. Three sizes of tap are available, i.e. 7" (17½cm), 8" (20cm) and 10" (25cm). The larger the tap the greater the flow of water.

Water butts can have either a loose lift-off lid or a fixed non-removable end. Either may be notched to allow entry of a drainpipe. Fixed ends are a safer option for children. We recommend fixed ends because they restrict air flow into the barrel and also trap moist air inside the barrel. This is beneficial for the barrel during hot, dry weather conditions. Reduced air flow also reduces the possibility of stagnant water effects.

Use a stand to lift the barrel off the ground increasing the clearance from the tap to the ground by an additional 4". This makes it sufficient for most buckets and watering cans. Our stands are made from pressure treated timber for long life. Water butt stands are 4" high and are made from pressure treated timber for long life. These attractive additions serve to lift the barrel off the ground allowing air to circulate under the barrel. They also increase the clearance between the tap and the ground by 4" making it possible to get larger watering cans and buckets under the tap.

Easy way to connect your water butt to a downpipe. This device diverts water from the downpipe to the water butt until the water butt is full. Any further water passes straight down the downpipe. No need for notches or lids. Fits both standard 68mm diameter round and 65mm square section drainpipe. It is however possible to fit diverters to pipes up to 81mm in diameter by using a large drainpipe adaptor. Water from your drainpipe collects inside a well in the rainsaver and flows to your water butt through the flexible hose. When the water level in the butt reaches the same level as the top of the rainsaver's well any further rainwater flows down the remainder of the downpipe. These Rainsavers are a convenient way to connect your water butt to a downpipe and fills your barrel and also acts as an overflow. To fit the rainsaver simply find the height you need to fit the saver at (approx. midway between the water butt hose entry and the top of the water butt), cut a 30mm section out of the drainpipe and slot the drainpipe back together using the rainsaver as the connector. Attach the flexible hose to the water butt to complete the installation.p>