How water butts are helping to protect rivers

It is hoped the water butts will take some pressure off of the sewer system

Scores of newly-installed water butts have saved thousands of litres of rainwater from contributing to sewage spills, a campaign group has said.

Save Water to Save the Trym (SWST) has been installing the containers, which store rainwater, at homes near combined sewer systems.

These systems are more likely to become overwhelmed in heavy rain and leak into rivers, according to SWST.

"People like the idea because rainwater is natural and better for your garden, but when you tell them that it helps protect the river it only motivates them more," said a SWST spokesperson.

SWST has fitted120 butts across Bristol, which have collected and stored up to 30,000 litres of rainwater. Campaigners are now calling on more residents to install the butts.

According to data from the Rivers Trust, the Trym was subject to hundreds of spills in 2023, which leaked into Bristol's other waterways.

"By targeting areas with combined sewage systems, you can have a greater and more cost-effective impact on the problem as a whole," said Peter Coleman-Smith, committee member at SWST.

'Reached capacity'

Campaigners now hope their work will encourage water companies to take on the scheme.

"As a volunteer group we've about reached our capacity and we hope this can be taken on at scale," said Mr Coleman-Smith.

Wessex Water confirmed that they had been in communication with SWST and that they are "pleased to support the positive work they are doing by awarding a grant from our Environment Fund".

"We fully support the use of water butts and other rainwater management solutions, such as rain gardens, rain planters and soakaways," a Wessex Water spokesperson added.