Plastic Bottle Rainwater Down Pipe With Filter

This is a pretty simple one, though it can save you buying a down pipe which would cost around £7-£8, and a filter!

All you will need are 5 plastic drink bottles, we're using the Buxton bottles because they curve in the middle and fit together really well when cut, but you should be okay with straighter bottles too.

You will also need to hang on to one of the plastic bottle lids; and a sharp pointed knife or a pair of scissors to cut the bottles.

The reason I added a filter is because one a bee managed to fly down the pipe and got lodged in there.  Fortunately I was there to release it with no harm done, but it made me think of a way to prevent anything bigger than rainwater from passing through.  Not only to save the wildlife from drowning in a barrel of certain death, but also to keep the water clearer and free from debris off the shed roof.

Step 1: What You Need...

5 (or more if you need it longer!) plastic bottles
1 plastic bottle lid to fit
1 sharp pointed knife

Step 2: Cutting the Bottles and Making the Filter Lid

I used a knife, but you may find scissors easier/safer to use.

Carefully cut the bottoms off of FOUR of the bottles at the lowest line, retaining as much of the bottle as possible.

For the FIFTH bottle, you need to cut it in half, as shown.  Cutting the bottles should be straightforward if you follow the line or groove.

Next, you need to - very carefully - make several holes in the lid.  It is easier if you hold it against a hard surface, like a concrete pathway!  Screw the lid-with-holes onto the half-sized piece of bottle you cut previously.

Step 3: Push Them Together

Next, you will need to push the bottles together to form a long tube.  Push the first into the second, top-opening-end first.  Shove as far as you can, you don't want these to work loose and fall apart.

Keep going until all bottles are facing the same way and pushed together.  Now for that half bottle with the lid on - that goes in last!

Step 4:

If your pipe is going to attach from a gutter, down to a water butt, like ours, you first need to make sure you have an access hole in the lid of your water butt.

Now, push the top of the pipe up over the end of the gutter piece, and insert the bottom end of the pipe into the water butt access hole.

If you find it is too loose and may flop out, you may need to add another bottle.

If on the other hand it is too tight to get into place, you may simply need to push the bottles a little closer together.

Attaching this way requires no additional fixings, it is simply wedged between the gutter and the lid and because there is very little give, it holds fast, but you may choose to secure it further if you wish.