News / wall mounted water butt

Hosepipe bans are now in place for parts of the country.

South East Water Imposes Hosepipe Ban in Kent from 25 June 2026

South East Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban for customers in Kent, effective from the 25th June 2026. The company confirmed the restriction would be publicly announced at 09:00 on 25 June 2026, with legal enforcement beginning at 00:01 on the 3rd July 2026.

The ban follows record-breaking demand for water during a prolonged heatwave, which has placed significant strain on local supplies. South East Water is the only UK water company to have issued a hosepipe ban so far in June 2026.

What’s Banned?
Under the restrictions, it is illegal to use a hosepipe for:

Watering gardens, allotments, or plants.
Cleaning vehicles (including driveways).
Filling or topping up swimming pools, ponds, or fountains.
Washing windows or outdoor surfaces.
Fines of up to £1,000 may apply for repeat offenders.

Why Now?
Southern England has experienced below-average rainfall for 18 months, with reservoirs and groundwater levels critically low. The Environment Agency has warned that without immediate action, water restrictions could spread across the South East.

How to Adapt
Gardeners are encouraged to use water butts to collect rainwater and adopt drought-resistant gardening practices. 

A 227 litre water butt kit is a practical and environmentally-friendly addition to any garden. Here’s why it’s worth considering:

1. Reliable water supply for your garden
A water butt provides a steady source of water for watering plants, even during hosepipe bans in summer. This means your garden stays healthy without relying on mains water during dry spells.

2. Saves money and reduces water waste
By collecting and reusing rainwater, you cut down on your water bills and lower your household’s overall water usage. This is especially useful for tasks like watering plants, cleaning outdoor spaces, or even washing gardening tools.

3. Supports sustainable living
Using a water butt helps you play a part in water conservation. Since daily water usage has nearly tripled since 1950, capturing rainwater is a simple way to reduce your environmental footprint and promote a more sustainable lifestyle.

4. Easy to use and efficient
The 227 litre kit is designed to be space-efficient and durable.

Water butts available to order here

Water Butts - small water butts, large water butts, water butt planters and wall mounted – Gardenis.co.uk

As autumn rolls in with its cooler temperatures and unpredictable weather, a water butt can be a nice addition to your garden.

BBC article

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crk661074ejo

BBC today - 'the Environment Agency has declared a drought in......

Gardenis now sells wall mounted water butts.

It has been very dry for weeks. The photo below shows gauges in the river. Typically the water is at the 2nd post.  In flood it can be well past where the photo was taken. It's dry all over Britain. Just today the news said Scotland has had the driest start to the year since 1964. Who knows, the weather might change to constant downpours, but if it remains drier than average there could be summer hosepipe bans. If this happens, there is usually a surge of orders for water butts. To avoid the queues for delivery you could order now, to get your water butt kit ready and collect any rain that falls. Various sizes and types are available in the water butt section. 

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