RP27: Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-03)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the sprayer or applicator load and washdown area 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

£35.86 per square metre (m2).

How this item benefits the environment

This item contains and collects washings from sprayers or applicators. They can degrade in a biofilter or biobed, helping to reduce the risk of water pollution.

Alternatively, a registered waste carrier can dispose of pesticide washings to a permitted disposal site or area approved by the Environment Agency on the farm.

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

Where you can use this item

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

You cannot use this item:
- within 10 metres (m) of a watercourse
- within 50m of a spring, borehole or well which is not used to supply water for domestic use or food production without prior agreement from the Environment Agency (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency#org-contacts)
- within 250m of a borehole used to supply water for domestic use or food production purposes without prior agreement from the Environment Agency
- in an area that’s designated as a Groundwater Source Protection Zone 1 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/groundwater-source-protection-zones-spzs) without prior agreement from the Environment Agency
- without relevant advice, consents or waste management licence from the Environment Agency
- on historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (https://hefer-data.org.uk/) (HEFER)
- on areas of wildlife interest identified on your Farm Environment Record (FER) or on MAGIC (https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx)
Get permission to use this item

You’ll need to get advice, consents and any required permits from the Environment Agency (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-an-environmental-permit) before you start work. You also must make sure you can comply with the T32 exemption (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t32-treatment-of-waste-in-a-biobed-or-biofilter) requirements if using a biobed or biofilter with this item.

What you must do to use this item

You must install:
- a concrete loading area that’s bunded (a raised area of concrete around the edge to contain liquid and prevent runoff)
- some holding tanks – the number of tanks would depend on the site
- fixed pumps and pipes to remove washings from the tank
To do this, you must:
- remove topsoil and excavate an area for the washdown area and tank
- remove or divert any field drains that cross the site
- cover the site with 140 millimetres (mm) to 160mm of well-compacted hardcore and at least 25mm of sand blinding
- lay a damp-proof membrane weighing at least 1200 grammes (g)
- lay a reinforced concrete slab at least 150mm thick to falls of at least a gradient of 1:100
- construct a concrete bund around the perimeter of the slab, making sure all concrete joints are sealed with a proprietary sealant (the sealant is produced and marketed under a registered trade name)
- make sure the bund is at least 100mm high so that it can contain liquids
make sure the concrete bunded area is as wide as the sprayer plus 2m, and as long as the sprayer plus an additional 1.5m

direct the drain containing the silt trap to a tank or chamber (no larger than 1500 litres) from which you can pump out and dispose of pesticide washings
- make sure the holding tank is made from seamless polyethylene, glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) or pre-cast concrete
- make sure the holding tank is sized according to local rainfall and the area of concrete (if there’s no roof or cover)
- make sure the whole structure is impermeable
You must also make sure the bunded concrete slab contains a slotted-cover type drain connected to a silt trap. It must have a removable cover that has a nominal capacity of 250mm below the inlet. Alternatively, lay the concrete so it’s sloping 4 ways to a drain in the centre of the slab. The drain should have a silt trap within it.

You must also meet the requirements of the T32 waste exemption (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t32-treatment-of-waste-in-a-biobed-or-biofilter) for the treatment of waste.

Evidence you must keep

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

You must also keep and provide with your claim:
- photographs of the site during the different stages of construction, or contracts, invoices or other documents confirming the technical specification for the completed works
- photographs of the completed works in place and installed
You must also keep and provide on request:
- receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- photographs of site before works start
- any consents or permissions connected with the work
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 these items:

RP25: Lined biobed with existing washdown area (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/lined-biobed-with-existing-washdown-area-rp25)

RP26: Biofilters (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/biofilters-rp26)

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/).

Measuring up for a biobed

You can read advice on the Voluntary Initiative website (https://voluntaryinitiative.org.uk/water/biobeds/) about:
- how to measure the loading and washdown area
- how to measure holding tanks
- pesticide handling areas and biobeds including sizing and volume calculations
Choosing a location

Construct in an area set aside for pesticide loading and washing operations where there’s no other traffic.

What to do with pesticide washings

Use a pump with an automatic float switch to remove pesticide washings collected in the sump or holding tank before the tank reaches capacity.

To dispose of the washings, transfer them to a biobed or biofilter for treatment – you’ll need a T32 waste exemption (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t32-treatment-of-waste-in-a-biobed-or-biofilter) for this. Alternatively, you can dispose pesticide washings via a registered waste carrier to a permitted disposal site or an area on farm approved by the Environment Agency.

Maintaining the slab, bund and pumps

Check the concrete slab and bund regularly and repair any damage or deterioration. You’ll also need to get the pumps checked regularly to make sure they’re operating properly.

Make sure the:
- area is not used for any purpose other than pesticide handling operations
- concrete is not damaged, so the area becomes impermeable
- storage tank does not overflow