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LV5

LV5: Pasture pumps and associated pipework

£295.90

per pump · one-off

info Summary

This Capital Grant provides funding for installing pasture pumps and associated pipework to offer livestock an alternative to drinking directly from watercourses. This action aims to reduce bank erosion, sediment pollution, and faecal contamination, thereby improving water quality and supporting habitat management.

format_list_bulleted What to do

  • Install a low-lift, animal-operated pasture pump
  • Secure the pump to robust, preserved timber
  • Construct a hardstanding area of at least 1m² around the pump, dug to at least 150mm depth, with compacted hardcore on a geotextile liner
  • Edge the hardstanding area with preserved timber (at least 150mm by 50mm)
  • Use medium-density polyethylene pipework with an external diameter of at least 25mm
  • Ensure all pipework joints are watertight and made from brass or plastic

checklist How to do and evidence required

You must 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:

  • any consents or permissions connected with the work
  • receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs of site 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 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.

tips_and_updates Additional Advice

  • A pump can lift water up to 5m high and pump up to 50m, providing water for 10 to 15 cattle
  • You may need to train livestock to use the pump
  • During winter, remove and store the pump to protect against frost damage
  • Ensure the work meets relevant British Standards

View Official Guidelines

Access detailed information about this action on the RPA website

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info Additional Information

LV5: Pasture pumps and associated pipework

This item is part of Capital Grants. You must read the [Capital items: guidance for applicants and This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance 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 to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£295.90 per pump.

How this item benefits the environment

Providing livestock with an alternative to drinking from watercourses reduces bank erosion, sediment pollution and the faecal contamination of watercourses.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item either:

  • in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution caused by farming, where livestock are excluded from stream or surface waters
  • to encourage grazing which helps to manage and restore habitats (in Higher Tier with the agreement of Natural England)

You cannot use this item to replace existing equipment in the same location.

What you must do to use this item

You must:

  • install a low-lift, animal-operated pasture pump
  • secure the pump to robust, preserved timber, for example to a sleeper or a post
  • construct a hardstanding area around the pump of at least 1 square metre (m2)
  • dig the hardstanding area to a depth of at least 150 millimetres (mm), or down to a naturally occurring hard surface
  • compact hardcore on a geotextile liner to a depth of at least 150mm
  • edge the hardstanding area with preserved timber (at least 150mm by 50mm)
  • use medium-density polyethylene pipework with an external diameter of at least 25mm
  • make sure all the joints are watertight and made from brass or plastic

Evidence you must keep

You must 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:

  • any consents or permissions connected with the work
  • receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs of site 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 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.

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

LV7: Livestock troughs

LV8: Pipework associated with livestock troughs

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.

Use the pump effectively

A pump can lift water up to around 5m high and pump to up to 50m. One pump can provide 10 to 15 cattle with water. You may need to train livestock to use the pump.

During winter you should:

  • remove the pump and store it to protect against frost damage
  • make sure the pump is available for inspection after it’s removed

British Standards

Check to make sure the work meets relevant British Standards.

Questions about LV5?

Ask Tom anything about this subsidy, eligibility, evidence requirements, or compatibility with other actions.