Draper Submersible Clean Water Butt Pump with Float Switch, 40L/min, 350W

The Draper WBP2A takes the effort out of using a water butt. This compact submersible pump sits directly inside the butt, draws water from the bottom up, and delivers it through 10 metres of cable to a hosepipe or irrigation system – and when the water level drops low enough, the float switch automatically turns the pump off, protecting it from running dry without any intervention needed.

At just 5kg with a 350W motor, the WBP2A is light enough to lift in and out of a water butt single-handed. A three-piece aluminium swan neck extension pipe and snap-on connector are supplied, making connection to your garden hose or irrigation kit quick and straightforward. With a maximum output of 40 litres per minute and an 11-metre head, it delivers the flow and pressure needed to run a garden irrigation system, fill a watering can station, or supply an outdoor tap from your stored rainwater. For gardeners who want to make the most of every litre of collected rainwater with minimal fuss, the WBP2A is the simplest and most effective solution in the Draper pump range.

Key Features & Benefits

Float Switch – Automatic Dry-Run Protection

The WBP2A's float switch is the feature that sets it apart from basic submersible pumps. As the water level in the butt drops, the float descends with it. When it reaches the preset minimum level, it automatically cuts power to the pump – preventing the dry running that rapidly destroys pump seals and impellers. No monitoring required, no manual switching off. Fill your watering can, connect your irrigation timer, and let the pump manage itself.

Submersible Design – Drops Directly into the Butt

Unlike surface mounted pumps that require a suction hose connection and priming, the WBP2A submerges directly in the water butt and draws from the bottom. This means it accesses the maximum possible volume of stored water, including water near the base of the butt that a surface pump's suction hose may struggle to reach. Lower the pump in, hang the cable over the rim, plug in, and it's working.

10 Metre Cable – Reach Across the Garden

A 10-metre cable with approved mains plug is supplied, giving enough reach to position the water butt in an optimal rainwater collection location and still connect to a mains socket in a garage, shed, or outdoor socket without an extension lead in most garden layouts. The generous cable length is a practical detail that makes a real difference in use.

Three-Piece Aluminium Swan Neck Extension Pipe

The supplied three-piece aluminium swan neck extension pipe threads through the water butt lid or over the rim, connecting the submerged pump to your hose or irrigation system above ground level. The snap-on connector makes attaching and detaching a garden hose or irrigation fitting quick and tool-free. Aluminium construction is lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant for long outdoor service life.

40L/min Output – Efficient Garden Watering

40 litres per minute is 2,400 litres per hour – fast enough to supply a drip irrigation network, fill a watering can station continuously, or run garden sprinklers from stored rainwater. For a 200-litre water butt, the WBP2A can empty it completely in around 5 minutes at maximum flow, or deliver sustained lower-pressure supply to an irrigation system across a watering session.

11m Maximum Head – Good Pressure for Garden Use

With a maximum head height of 11 metres, the WBP2A delivers useful pressure for garden irrigation, hosepipe supply, and elevated watering points. It handles a standard garden layout comfortably, including elevated beds, wall-mounted irrigation lines, and gently rising ground.

Handles Particles up to 3mm

A maximum particle diameter of 3mm means the WBP2A tolerates the fine sediment, leaf debris, and organic particles typically found in a water butt or rainwater harvesting tank – the kind of lightly dirty water that would rapidly block a clean water pump with a tighter tolerance. This makes it genuinely well-suited to real-world water butt conditions.

Lightweight at Just 5kg

At 5kg, the WBP2A is easily lifted in and out of a water butt with one hand – no struggle lowering a heavy unit into a narrow opening. Light enough to retrieve, clean, and store at the end of the season without effort.

350W Motor – Low Running Costs

A 350W motor is economical to run compared to the 800–1,100W surface pumps elsewhere in the range. For a pump that may run daily through a watering season, lower electricity consumption makes a meaningful difference to running costs over time.

Full Specification

What's in the Box

• Draper WBP2A Submersible Water Butt Pump
• Three-piece aluminium swan neck extension pipe
• Snap-on connector
• 10m cable with approved mains plug

Who Is the Draper WBP2A For?

Home Gardeners with Water Butts – The natural companion to any water butt or rainwater collection system. Deliver stored rainwater to the garden under pressure, without hand-pumping, siphoning, or gravity-fed trickle flow. The float switch protects the pump automatically so you can focus on gardening, not monitoring the butt level.

Drip Irrigation & Sprinkler Users – Supply a garden drip irrigation system or sprinkler network from a water butt rather than mains water. The WBP2A provides the pressure and flow needed to run a medium-sized irrigation network from stored rainwater, helping reduce water bills and mains usage.

Allotment Holders – A portable, lightweight pump that's easy to carry to the allotment, drop into an on-site water butt, and connect to a hosepipe or irrigation system. The float switch means you can start the pump and tend to other tasks without watching the butt level.

Rainwater Harvesting System Owners – Integrate the WBP2A into a rainwater harvesting setup to distribute collected water under pressure to the garden, greenhouse, or outdoor tap system, reducing mains water dependency.

Greenhouse & Polytunnel Growers – Supply drip lines and overhead irrigation inside a greenhouse or polytunnel from a nearby water butt, with the float switch preventing unattended dry running between watering cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the float switch work? The float switch is a small buoyant device connected to the pump's power circuit. It floats on the water surface inside the butt and rises and falls with the water level. When the water drops below the minimum safe operating level for the pump, the float reaches a position that opens the circuit and cuts power to the motor. This prevents the pump running dry – which would damage the seals and impeller within minutes. When you refill the butt, the float rises and the pump can be switched back on manually.

Can I use the WBP2A with any water butt? The WBP2A is designed to work with standard garden water butts. The three-piece swan neck extension pipe allows connection through or over the butt rim or lid. Most standard butts (200–400 litre) have an opening sufficient to lower the 5kg pump inside. For very narrow-necked butts or slimline designs, check the opening diameter against the pump dimensions before purchase.

What's the difference between the WBP2A and a surface mounted pump for water butts? A surface mounted pump sits outside the butt and draws water through a suction hose via a tap or outlet fitting. The WBP2A submerges directly inside the butt, drawing from the bottom without needing a tap or outlet fitting, and accessing the full depth of stored water including the lower portion a suction hose may not reach. The float switch also provides automatic dry-run protection that a surface pump lacks unless separately fitted. For water butt use specifically, the submersible approach is simpler to set up and more effective at emptying the butt fully.

Will it work with a water butt without a tap fitted? Yes. The WBP2A lowers directly into the butt through the top opening and doesn't require a tap or outlet fitting in the side of the butt. The swan neck extension pipe brings the outlet up and over the rim to connect to your hose.

How long does it take to empty a water butt? At maximum flow (40L/min), the WBP2A empties a 200-litre butt in approximately 5 minutes, and a 400-litre butt in around 10 minutes. In practice, flow rate reduces slightly at higher head heights and with longer hose runs, so real-world times will be somewhat longer depending on your setup.

Is it suitable for dirty or green water in a butt? The WBP2A handles particles up to 3mm in diameter, making it tolerant of the fine sediment, organic particles, and mild algae typical of a garden water butt. It is not suitable for heavily silted or debris-laden water. Cleaning the butt periodically keeps the pump performing at its best.