Build a water tap in the garden

What conditions does the garden have to have?

In any case, weigh up whether the material and financial expenditure is reasonable in relation to the benefit. It is best to have an existing water pipe nearby, private or public. In order to be able to tap a public water supply, you need a permit. Your waterworks or utility company can tell you where a suitable pipe is. You get your own water meter and pay for the actual consumption. In order to set up a water tap in the garden at the house, you may only need to have a pit permit. Some municipalities charge a fee of up to € 25 for this. But if your garden is far away, in rocky terrain or there are other massive obstacles, all that remains is to build a well.

Which water tap is the best?

• Only when using rainwater is it possible to do without a permanent water pipe. Then manage that water directly into a container above ground. This can be built as a stone fountain with a base plate, but it can also be made of plastic or metal. A permanent solution is a stainless steel vat.
• To build up pressure, you will need a garden pump. A valve or tap on the container enables a suitable hose to be connected. The same applies if you only dig a pit that you line with pond liner and use it as an open scoop.
• You have far better options with a pressure line. The cheapest variant of the water dispenser is a pole on which the tap is screwed. If you like it historical, you can wall a stone crypt and install the water pipe there.
• You can choose what material the necessary line should be made of. Iron is cheap, but prone to rust. We recommend a system made of plastic, which is available in all hardware stores. The tap must be drained for frost protection.


Low pressure fitting - when it is needed

Even those who use the domestic water supply points every day do not have to ...

• A water tap enables a sprinkler to be connected. You can also use a hose to direct water to inaccessible or distant places. The pressure connection can also be used to fill a pool, a brick well or container.

This is how the water tap is created

1. Once the place for the water tap is established, you usually cannot avoid digging. The water pipe shouldn't be in the way and shouldn't freeze right away. However, to dig over a groundbreaking deep, you need a permit from the building inspectorate. This ensures that you do not destroy a supply line.
2. Now pull the water pipe to the destination. It must have a drain valve if it is not frost-proof. This valve must be at the lowest point in the line. The leaking water can seep into the ground without hesitation. You can support the seepage if you dump a wheelbarrow full of sand at the point in question. If the drain valve is deeper in the ground, it should be able to be operated from above with a long key.
3. In this case, put a pipe over the valve that always allows the valve to be operated. It has to reach the surface. Then you don't have to dig any more to get the key.
4. The cheapest variant of a water pipe in the garden is a PE pipe. It is supplied by the meter and can be installed without tools. Some systems are also implemented using adhesive technology. Simply roll out the PE pipe in the trench and connect the ends or outlets with the associated clamp connections. You can make the appropriate lengths with a hacksaw.
5. If your water pipe has to be in stony ground, you should prepare a bed of sand all around so that it is not damaged. A blue plastic band placed over it signals the next time you dig up: Caution! After that, you are allowed to fill up again with stony soil.
6. If the faucet is to be integrated into a permanent structure, install it completely and then wall the pipe. Make sure the tap is high enough for a bucket to fit underneath.
7. If you simply want a stable attachment for the tap, a hammered iron post or square timber is sufficient. The use of stainless steel guarantees a long service life. Always use an externally threaded tap where you can connect a hose.

The fountain as a collector

If you enjoy it, you can turn your water pump into a small work of art. However, it causes a considerable amount of work and additional costs. You have to dig the earth about one and a half meters deep, pour a concrete floor slab and build a wall. It does not have to be round, but as watertight as possible so that no water is lost through seepage.

• Any water you can get hold of can be used for filling. Rainwater harvesting comes first. Tapping into public water is generally not permitted.
• You can drape such a stone fountain with the mock-up of a covered draw well or a swinging tree based on the Hungarian model.

A garden that is to be used intensively is unthinkable without a water supply. That is why investing in a simple water dispenser is always worthwhile. Depending on the version, you have to reckon with costs between € 200 and € 500. With skill and ingenuity, you will certainly be able to turn it into an eye-catcher. Last but not least, the sales value of a garden increases with a water tap.