RP23: Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep)
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-03)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep) item.

This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-grants-2025) to understand the rules and how to apply. If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht) to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£152.92 per unit.

How this item benefits the environment

If you have relocated sheep dip drain pens, providing livestock drinking troughs can help reduce the risk of water pollution. Pollution from sheep dips can cause damage to people and aquatic wildlife.

This item can help you protect, recover and improve biodiversity on your land.

Where you can use this item

You can only use this item in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture, with support from Catchment Sensitive Farming (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/catchment-sensitive-farming-reduce-agricultural-water-pollution).

Catchment Sensitive Farming provides advice where there are water quality or flood risk issues linked to farming.

You can also use this item with RP20: Relocation of sheep dips and pens (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/relocation-of-sheep-dips-and-pens-rp20) and RP21:Relocation of sheep pens only (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/relocation-of-sheep-pens-only-rp21) when moving a static holding pen used with a mobile sheep dip.

You cannot use this item:
- alongside the installation of new permanent sheep dip and holding pens on a farm where there are no existing dipping facilities
- to replace existing equipment in the same location
Get permission to use this item

You’ll need to get relevant advice, consents or permits from the Environment Agency (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-an-environmental-permit) before starting any work.

You must also contact your local planning authority to check if planning permission is needed.

What you must do to use this item

You must:
- install the water trough on a level hard base in either the draining pen or a fenced area
- ensure the trough is made of galvanised steel, concrete, spray-moulded glass-reinforced cement (GRC) or polyethylene
- connect the trough to a water supply or supply water from a bowser – if using mains water supply, you must comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/contents/made)
- ensure that pipework is medium-density blue polyethylene with an external diameter of at least 25 millimetres (mm)
- ensure all joints on the pipework are watertight and made of brass or plastic
- bury the pipework below cultivation depth (to at least 600mm) or as determined by the local water supplier
Evidence you must keep

You must keep written support from your Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser and provide this with your application.

You must also keep and provide with your claim:
- photographs of the completed work
- any consents or permissions connected with the work, including from the local planning authority
If you do not need consent or permission from your local planning authority, you must provide evidence to show this. This can be a:
- letter from the authority confirming you do not need permission
- note of a telephone conversation with a local authority representative, with the name, date, and time of the call
- link to online guidance or printout of guidance text which shows you do not need permission
You must also keep and provide on request:
- receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- photographs of the existing site and current dipping facilities before works start
Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agreement-holders-guide-capital-grants-higher-tier-capital-grants-and-protection-and-infrastructure-grants-2025) for more information.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht).

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with:

RP22: Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/sheep-dip-drainage-aprons-and-sumps-rp22)

RP28 Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores) (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/roofing-sprayer-washdown-area-manure-storage-area-livestock-gathering-area-slurry-stores-silage-stores-rp28)

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

British Standards

Check to make sure the work meets relevant British Standards (https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/products-and-services/standards/).

Installing similar items

Read more information on installing dip baths and pens and discharging sheep dips:

RP20: Relocation of sheep dips and pens (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/relocation-of-sheep-dips-and-pens-rp20)

RP21: Relocation of sheep pens only (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/relocation-of-sheep-pens-only-rp21)

RP22: Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/sheep-dip-drainage-aprons-and-sumps-rp22)

Protecting the historic environment

You should avoid using this item:
- close to a historic farmstead or listed building – you can get advice on listed building consent from your local authority
- on sites of archaeological or historic importance as identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (https://hefer-data.org.uk/) (HEFER) – you can get advice on scheduled monument consent from Historic England before using this item on such sites
You should also consider the character of the landscape when constructing new fencing lines. This particularly applies in designated landscapes or historic parkland.