Guidance

Water grants 2015: yard inspection pit or catch pit (RP14)

Eligibility and requirements for yard inspection pit or catch pit.

This guidance was withdrawn on

Capital items for improving water quality are now available through the Mid Tier of Countryside Stewardship.

Applies to England

Farmers and other land managers can apply for water grants.

Read the accompanying guidance to find out more about Countryside Stewardship water grants 2015.

How much will be paid

£200 per unit.

Where the item is available

This item is available in Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) target areas. It can be used for existing uncovered yards made of:

  • concrete;
  • hard core;
  • tarmac; or
  • bare earth.

When this item can’t be used

It can’t be used for indoor yards or any form of covered yard work.

How this item will benefit the environment

This item improves existing outdoor yards to reduce the risk of runoff and water pollution.

Requirements

Send documents and photographs with your application.

Before applying, check with the Environment Agency (EA) if the works are designed to transfer slurry or silage effluent and need to meet water resources control of water pollution regulations.

Applicants must send any advice or consent they receive from the EA with their application.

With permission from Natural England, advice and consent can be received up until 29 May 2015; applicants can discuss this with their local CSF officer.

Applicants must also send dated photographs of the existing site with the application. Building an inspection pit or catch pit.

The works must relevant British Standards. Check the most up-to-date standards.

For both inspection pits and catch pits, successful applicants must:

  • make sure the internal area of the pit is at least 0.36 square metres (m2);
  • build the pit onto a concrete base that’s at least 250mm thick, with block walls rendered internally and externally;
  • construct the pit walls with:

    • solid concrete blocks at least 200mm thick
    • engineering brickwork at least 200mm thick
    • proprietary precast reinforced concrete
    • proprietary plastic or uPVC liner with a concrete surround at least 150mm thick;
  • install all proprietary items according to the manufacturer’s instructions to support the weight of traffic going over it;
  • design the cover and frame to carry a load appropriate to its situation, e.g. in high traffic areas this must at least 10 kilonewtons per square metre (10kN/m2);
  • embed the cover and frame securely so it’s level with or is below the surrounding surface; and
  • build at least 10m from a slurry or silage store is this item has an open grating.

For inspection pits, the following must also be done:

  • make sure the pit opening is at least 600mm in diameter;
  • make sure the inspection pit channel is benched half round, equal in diameter to the largest inlet pipe and extending the full length of the pit; and
  • make sure the side connections discharge in the direction of flow of the main channel.

For catch pits, successful applicants must also:

  • make sure the pit opening is at least 150mm by 150mm, or 150mm in diameter;
  • place the pit at least 10m from a silage or slurry storage facility if it has an open grating;
  • install a pluggable catch pit and sump (at least 450mm deep with a submersible pump) at the point where clean drainage water leaves the yard; and
  • monitor the drainage water for contaminants.

Keeping records

Successful applicants will need to keep:

  • dated photographs before and after the works have taken place (submit these with any claim and show them on request);
  • a copy of listed building and EA consent, if applicable;
  • a copy of scheduled monument consent, if applicable; and
  • copies of all receipted invoices and bank statements relating to this work.

How to carry out this item

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully.

More detailed information about using this item is available through the local CSF officer. Applicants may also be able to request an infrastructure audit, slurry and manure handling plan, or pesticide handling or washdown facilities design.

This item can also be used on the same area as the following options and supplements:

Further information

The Rivers Trust has further guidance on dirty water separation.

Published 2 March 2015