On 2008-07-22 01:33:55 +0100, Martin Pentreath
said:

[snip]

Unfortunately I shan't be able to fill watering cans from the butt and
water the garden that way due to a bone disease.* So, getting to the
point, would one of those water-butt pumps produce enough pressure to
power an irrigation system like this?

A water butt pump like this one at £35 -
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=141331 - will certainly do
what you want but it needs electricity of course.

If your butt is high enough, so to speak, and the pipework isn't too
long, gravity will work too - but you might have to be prepared to
raise your butt higher on bricks. Hozelock do a gravity watering kit if
you need to buy new components - see
http://www.greenfingers.com/supersto...&pf_id=LS2797D.

And

just to state the obvious, none of these systems will keep your plants
alive if the butt is dry... although a full water butt should last for
at least a fortnight if a drip system is connected.