After last years dry summer (2025) I decided to try and get ahead of the game by upgrading my rainwater harvesting and storage.
So now I can store around 3500 litres of rainwater but I need a reliable pump to get the water to the growing spaces.
After some research this little Bosch 18 Volt pump seemed to be getting good reviews so I bought one with my own money.
This is just a first impressions video but if it continues to run like this and be reliable in the long term then this could be a very good solution for me.
48 Comments
Agree on the water and electricity comment, being self sufficient on others services!
Good work being less reliant on the mains. I do the same here but have about 150 gallons rainwater on hand. Would you believe in some states and cities in the US they banned people from catching rainwater on the basis it was hindering the natural runoff of rainfall, after they pave everything and constrict everything into storm sewers? Absolute bullocks and just another way our overlords want us beholden to them.
What sort of time did you get out of one battery, and did it come with a second one so you could be charging one whilst using the other? I’m thinking that it would be a good option for pressurizing a slow drip irrigation system once a day as long as it would have a good run time.
Excellent equipment. Did your potato tubs come with drainage holes in the bottom or did you have to do it yourself please?
Superb! Owt that isn't mains dependant (and bypasses your water meter) is a result🫡
I wish you a happy rain and always full watertanks!
Good one Sandy looks a handy little pump keeps the plants watered. Cheers BK
I will have to change my name to sandy lol I have got some of the potato tubs you have and I have now ordered one of those water pumps sandy, you should get yourself some kind of shop where people order from and it’s sent direct to them but you don’t need to have anything to do with it, just get a small commission
Nice video that bruv. I think it's a very good idea getting one of those big water containers. Are they expensive?
That is a brilliant pump. Many years ago my father would take our water tanks down to the river and bale water into them. This would have saved a lot of effort.
Great looking set up Sandy. Having a battery operated system surely is convenient. I'm on the Dewalt platform for all my business tools. I'll have to look into that option.
Atb, Chris
Glad that pump works well. interesting video. thanks for sharing. cheers
All systems go sandy! If the hose was shorter the battery life would be longer that's allot of hose, all looking very promising!
I'm really impressed with the way you plan & organise your garden. Removing the trees and hedge, and using the extra gained space to put up a poly tunnel. The way you have thought ahead with the water storage situation. It just goes to prove that planning is everything.
Good Day, Sandy.
You've got a good water system going, congrats.
If it were possible to stagger the heights of your upstream tanks, you'd be able to save battery power by siphoning from the initial tank to lower tanks in the setup, all the way down to the IBC tanks.
All the Best, from South Africa
I think that with a little help from nature, you will get those rain barrels full and put to very good use this growing season. That 3,000L cushion from your water collection system should help immensely in getting you through the growing season between the sporadic and occasional rain showers. Very well done Sandy. You are doing everything you can and I think that you will be rewarded for your efforts. I'm very anxious and interested in seeing how things work out with this. Goodluck, and happy gardening! See you on the next one.
Another superb video sandy and that's a great little pump as always I enjoy watching all the best to you and mandy take care your friend dave
I think having a trigger on the lance rather than a flow control would both maximise water supply and pump battery duration. Having both the water and pump on-demand rather than continuously running will be more efficient. Thanks for uploading 👍
Rhubarb looking good😊
Hi Sandy,
That Bosch pump looks a great item to transfer your rain water.
We have some rain forecast later in the week for us here in the frozen north.
Your garden reorganisation plan is coming along great now.
Take care, best regards. 👍👍👍
Does anyone know if the battery is rechargeable via USB?
Very interesting video ! Thank you !
You have inspired me to dig up over half my lawn! It now has 70 potatoes planted and kidney beans on the way 😂
I’ve had two Bosch lawnmowers over the decades and think highly of the Bosch garden tools, and that pump looks perfect for the job you want it to do. Two Acres is really coming on Mr WM 🤗
Great video Sandy, you should have enough water this year.
I think I read somewhere that the pump is designed to work with up to 25m of hose. Your new hose looks longer than that.
BTW, you pumped 100 litres of water in not many minutes and watered your potatoes and rhubarb. It gives a good idea of how much water you'll need to do the whole garden.
Good set up but that hose could be a bit of hassel. Looks very hard. I like the soft hozelock hoses
A good gadget there. That should make things a bit easier.
Thanks for sharing your progress in the garden adding all your new stuff poly tunnel water pump etc how long do you think it will be before you break even and into profit I think you’re doing a great job growing everything you can unfortunately I only have a small plot take care and good luck
The battery is interchangible with other 18v Bosch power tools as well. I got mine in 2020 with an offer for 2nd battery for free. Unfortunately it was not interchangible with my older 18v drill. Last year I had to replace the controller as the buttons would not switch it off. Only way to switch off was to open the battery housing which has a cutout. I had dropped it a few times, but may have been the membrane switches. At least Bosch do spares so only bought the control box. Batteries and pump still fine. I rate Bosch products as the much older drill is going fine as well.
Looks like a really nice pump. Wish you a lot of rain (and sunshine) for the summer 🙂
Stay Safe and Healthy!
It's all coming together nicely Sandy. A reward for all that hard work.
Does the pump continue to run if you run out of water or does it cutout? ( Nothing external I could see) . Just wondering as usually (in my world of pumps) running a centrifugal pump dry ruins the shaft seal in very short order.
Guess if someone needed a longer runtime, it would be possible to run via an isolating transformer/rectified supply with a bit of tinkering. The low Voltage does seem a much safer/more attractive option.
I read that one user had trouble with the switches. Maybe a 'Big Clive' could be done and replacement switches fitted??
Hi sandy. Regarding the icbs. FYI. If you don't paint them black, cover with black plastic or protect them from light, the water can go green or develop an algy. Do your homework. That's been my experience. Few tins of cheap black spray cans should do the job. All the best.
I whish Thames water had your brains sandy.
ICB integrated care board. IBC intermediate bulk carrier. 😂😂. Works a treat 👍👍👍👍
So good i hyped it 👍👍👍
Hi Sandy. Good vid . Top tip. A little smear of red rubber grease on each of the “O” rings in the push fits . Makes the operation smoother, and stops them tearing! 👍
Hi Sandy, loving your videos, I sent a message to G5wq about some water butts and the IBC tanks, to pass to you.
Keep up the excellent videos, gardens and Radio.
73, G5BUT, Upavon.
You should consider getting a couple shade covers for your IBC’s to prevent excess algae growth
That pump works great, Sandy, well done 👍🏼.
nice x
Maximus Ironthumper uses one of those IBC things for his drinking water off grid!
Wonderful , just wonderful . I find this channel fascinating .
Brill! Very important to save water l have 7 water buts myself never had to use tap water last year. Jan
Perhaps make a cover for the IBC, if you exclude the light you reduce green algae.
That is quite the set-up you have, just be careful if a hosepipe ban is issued. I heard of a bloke who was sent to court for siphoning his bath water down to his garden with a hosepipe.🖖
Hi Sandy, not wanting to Bragg. I was able to pick some rhubarb from my allotment on Saturday and make a crumble.
I was so pleased because it has died off previously.
That potato compost does look dry sandy, looks like your set up now though to make life easier, nothing worse than carrying a watering can endlessly around the plants. 👍
You should have a good set up, Sandy, looking great..cheers..