Smelly water butt

TerrysWorld · August 2023

I have 2 x 210ltr waterbutts with their own lids.

Found recently the water smell, frothy and floating scum on inside of the butts.

I've read somewhere to naturally stop the smell and scum was to use Charcoal in the butts.

Anyone heard of this or how to apply the charcoal in the Butts.

thanks

philippasmith2 · August 2023

Do you have any form of filter on the down pipe feeding the butts ? All sorts of detritis washing down from the roof could be the problem.

bédé · August 2023

I suggest a few drips of household bleach.

Grannybee · August 2023

Two of my water butts smelt very bad. One was a dead squirrel (see earlier post!) and the other had a lot of pigeon poo in it where it had washed off the green house roof. I have heard of charcoal in butts but have not tried it yet. I too, would be interested to hear from anyone whe has. I solved the problem by emptying the butts and covered the greenhouse roof with wire so the pigeons can't land. Works so far.

SalixGold · August 2023

It is good to clear out and wash the water butt periodically - check for leaves and leaks and clog ups. If the butt is sealed on top with a tight lid then you should not get mosquitoes, leaves or dead animals there.

TerrysWorld · August 2023

Ok,
Rightly or wrongly, I have emptied the butts and washed out. Replaced the down pipe collector to a filtered collector. Got a pair of Daughters unused tights, cut the foot off, crushed a lumpwood charcoal and placed in the foot, washed the dust out.

Now placed the foot with charcoal over the inlet pipe in the butt, so that rainwater is filtered by charcoal and the foot being finer than the mesh filter. Rightly or wrongly.??
Also wrapped the butt lids in plastic bin bags to stop leaves, slugs and flower blossoms falling the gaps in the lids.

TerrysWorld · August 2023

Meaning to say,

Was it the right way to use the charcoal, or wrong way using a nylon sock.
Also meant to say, "Also wrapped the butt lids in plastic bin bags to stop leaves, slugs and flower blossoms falling through the gaps around the lid clips."

plant pauper · August 2023

What a great thread. All that's missing is Finbarr Saunders @wild edges. 🤣
I'll be interested to hear how your set up works @TerrysWorld . What is usually used would be something called activated charcoal. It's quite porous so will take up the impurities. It is available as a powder but is more popular nowadays in tablet form as a dietary supplement. The powder would be very messy.
Let's see how your lump-in-a-tight-foot works. I think it's genius.

Waterbut · August 2023

I think your guttering may need cleaning out plus maybe your down pipe and as SG suggests clean the butts out. I have two in series with the first collecting the muck from the guttering which settles on the bottom, I clean it out in mid Summer when it is nearly empty, resulting in clear water in the second butt. They also have tight lids on the top.

TerrysWorld · August 2023

The guttering is clear almost and has a Cone guard to stop foreign matter like leaves etc going down the downpipe, although none was seen in the butt just the smelly scum floating on the surface.
Incidentally the gutter is along the shed at the bottom of the garden.

bcpathome · August 2023

We just use a proprietary brand of water butt stinky water cleaner ,not mucking about with powders and tights etc although I do admire your ingenuity.

Smelly water butt

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