Where Did My Water Go?

[Colin2016]

Went to plot for stock up on veg for tea, thought I would see how full my water butts were, as we have had a bit? of rain of late.

Took lid off shock/horror it only had couple of inches of water with level at least 2 inches below tap outlet.

Tilted butt to see if tap was on or leaking, not on/no leaks.

[Geoff]

You always have to take note of the elephant in the room.

[alan refail]

You always have to take note of the elephant in the room.

Too true!

[Westi]

Funny you say that Colin, my butt is full to just over the tap. It is not fed off any guttering but free standing in the middle of the plot so don't have to lug the cans so far fro the one by the shed, but we have had loads of rain as well. Recently moved it as thought it was leaking in it's previous spot but when cleaned & moved nothing found.

In my case I feel it is not capturing the rain fall as the diameter of the lid wouldn't catch a lot (but been loads of heavy showers) so have in mind some wider funnel shape thing to sit in the gap, (Thinking an incinerator lid).

[robo]

I have three x 56 litre all interlinked with 25 mms pipe the down spout from my shed and lean too go into one barrel which then fill the other two ,at the moment all three are overflowing

[Primrose]

Has anybody near your plot suddenly acquired a new water but or tank and been helping themselves to your water in your absence? Not all plot holders are squeaky clean, if you don,t have a tiny invisible split somewhere I can,t think how else so much water would suddenly disappear. Pit you can,t out some harmless dye in the bottom of the butt. At least anybody oinching water then might risk being discovered if they try to use is.

[robo]

Why not put a dye in the water on the lines primrose suggests you could use a tomato feed that turns water red

[Colin2016]

If it's the elephant I want its poo...Do not think it's a human issue more likely to be knackered butt.

There are 3 in series so will move them around.

Been boasting that all this rain will fill my barrels up.

There is a ditch behind my plot so thinking of using the bilge pump to fill them up.

[Primrose]

It you had the same amount of heavy rain rain we had here in the night you should have noticed a slight difference but of course even an almost invisible leak will allow it to seek away gradually over days. Is there any kind of spray or coating which plumbers can spray or paint on surfaces which react with water in a harmless way to disclose where a miniscule leak might be?

It's frustrating though when a hot dry season ahead is being forecast as likely and we'll need all the water we can get.

[oldherbaceous]

I would say it has a split in it somewhere, Colin.....

[Colin2016]

Checked today after nights worth of rain and its quarter full so transferred it into number 2 butt.

Think you are right oldherbaceous.

[oldherbaceous]

Sometimes I would rather be wrong, Colin, as I suppose it will mean more expense and work!

[Colin2016]

Not a major issue as I have 2 other 200 litre butts plus a 1100 litre tank in metal frame plus always on the look out for any looking for a good home.

I am more annoyed at loosing all that water

[robo]

No shortage off h2o here it's not stopped raining for more than fifteen minutes all day mixed with sleet and hail

[Westi]

Not looking good for the next couple of days, my phone weather is saying gusts & hail tomorrow down here - I hope not too gusty as butt is pretty empty, but you guys & girls further north get the fleece out & as many bricks you can find to keep it down!