Ten Unconventional Ways To Use A Water Trough

Whether you’re looking to make use of one in the traditional ways for feeding and watering livestock, or in a more unconventional situation like the ones outlined in this article, water troughs are an easy upgrade to install and bring immediate benefit.

A Quick Note Before We Jump In: Although the below projects are categorised under either plastic or metal water troughs, many of them can be completed with whichever you prefer. Categorisation in either section below is simply based on the most common choice when working on these types of creative and DIY projects.

Creative Ways To Use Plastic Water Troughs

Plastic water troughs are generally crafted from food safe materials making them perfect for holding water for stock as well as other projects such as:

1. Garden Beds

Renting and prohibited from digging up your yard? Unable to bend all the way down for planting and harvesting? Or perhaps you simply prefer your garden beds raised? A plastic water trough is a fantastic solution.

Incredibly lightweight and portable when empty (read: able to be taken with you when the lease ends or easily relocated within the yard if you need different growing conditions) they require very little preparation to be able to serve as a home for any food or plants you wish to grow. Simply fill the water trough up with soil, add your seeds and fertiliser, and away you go.

If you don’t want to have to water your plants each day you can also configure a home irrigation system for your new water trough garden beds. Your local Irrigear Independent Expert can help you design the perfect solution for your needs which can often also be taken with you when moving.

2. Ponds

Want to keep fish without digging a hole in your yard? Got visiting ducks who’d love to have a bath? Select a plastic water trough, add some substrate and fill it up with water – your base is now ready.

Ponds stay much healthier when the water is circulated so the installation of a pond pump and aerator will go a long way to building your aquatic ecosystem the right way. This is because adequate oxygen is key to keeping water in good condition, which is particularly important if you’re going to be keeping fish. Apart from this, however, most inclusions will be a matter of personal preference so feel free to get creative. Just be mindful that some pond plants (we’re looking at your duckweed) can quickly take over in a small aquatic ecosystem.

3. Pool For Animals

If your animals are small enough to fit in a water trough, a plastic one could provide the perfect place for them to cool off in Summer. Get your hands on one that is shallow enough for your pets to get in and out of by themselves and they’ll feel like you’ve set up a beachside resort in the yard for them.

Note: No items should ever be placed within the water trough if it is being used for this purpose, as they are a safety risk for animals getting tangled up and stuck.

4. Compost Bin

Composting is a great way to reduce household waste while also giving your gardens a nice health boost – and you don’t need a specialised setup. Simply pick a location far enough away from the home that the smell of compost won’t bother the inhabitants and get everything configured within your water trough.

5. Drink Cooler

Finally, if you’re looking for a fun and unique drink cooler for your next party – a plastic water trough is the perfect solution! Fill it up with ice, pop your drinks in, and enjoy your guest’s reactions and ice cold bevvies.

Creative Ways To Use Metal Water Troughs

Metal water troughs have a rustic appeal to them and can be used for a range of applications, including a few which can be quite surprising:

6. Water Feature

Because of their rustic charm, metal water troughs make the perfect base for a DIY water feature. Simply select your decorations, spec up a pump and enjoy the soothing sound of water splashing in the yard. Aquatic plants and fish can be added to your water feature for extra pizzazz but be mindful that if you choose to go down this route you’ll need to ensure adequate oxygen to help keep them healthy.

7. Fire Pit

Got an old metal water trough that needs an upgrade but isn’t ready for the scrap heap yet? Why not turn it into a fire pit? Because metal doesn’t really burn it is often the material of choice for fire pit construction meaning that your old water trough can easily acclimatise to a new life with a different element.

8. Bathtub

Now this one does require a little more modification than most of the other options in this article, but with the right configuration, a metal water trough can be used as a bathtub. This type of design choice will feel most at home in rustic, industrial or country style homes, but a bathtub crafted from a metal water trough can be an excellent statement piece in any bathroom.

You’ll need to get a plumber involved for this one as you’ll need to cut a drain hole and connect all the plumbing, but the extra work will all be worth it when you have a unique freestanding bathtub that will be sure to be a talking point with guests.

9. Decorative Storage

Making use of a metal water trough as decorative storage is definitely a more niche application, but much like the above mentioned bathtub it can be a great addition to industrial, rustic or country style homes. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, your new storage can be as simple as the trough just sitting wherever you need it, or as elaborate as you’d like it to be. Cut or burn designs into the burn, add a lid of your choice or paint your trough to really customise the aesthetic.

10. Furniture

Following on from the above, you could also take things a step further and turn your metal water trough into fully functional furniture. You’ll need to add reinforcement if you’re wanting to put any substantial weight on your new statement piece, but metal water troughs can be turned into coffee tables, ottomans, seats and more. The possibilities are only really limited by your preferred home design style, so feel free to set your creativity loose.

Creative Uses For Concrete Water Troughs

While concrete water troughs cannot be repurposed as easily as their metal or plastic counterparts due to their weight and fairly rigid positioning once set up, you can still make use of them in creative ways - it simply takes a bit more planning. If using an existing concrete water trough you’ll probably be restricted to its current location, but you also have the option to purchase the trough specifically for whatever project you’re looking to complete.

Regardless of why you’re hunting for a water trough, your local Irrigear Independent Expert can assist you in finding the right option for your needs. They can also design supporting irrigation and/or pump setups if required, so be sure to let them know what you’re wanting to create so they can give the best advice. Find your closest team via our Store Locator and set your creativity free today.