Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems – Sediment Traps and Bunds
This is an old version of the page
Date published: 7 December, 2021
Date superseded: 8 December, 2022
For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.
For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.
Aim
The aim of this item is to improve water quality by creating a strategically placed sediment trap and / or bund to intercept run-off that currently discharges direct to a watercourse or freshwater drain.
Eligibility
Any land is eligible, provided that it meets all of the requirements set out below.
You must combine this item with:
Where a sediment trap is to be created to accept run-off from a steading, you must combine this item with at least one of the following associated capital items (except where the sediment trap only accepts roof run-off or is located on an intensive pig or poultry unit):
Spatial targeting
You can check if this item is available on your holding using the search targeting tool.
Application requirements
You must prepare a plan which must include a map of the relevant fields / steading identifying the location of the rural sustainable drainage system feature.
For rural sustainable drainage system features accepting run-off from a steading, the plan must include a calculation of the size of the rural sustainable drainage system feature(s) including the amount of runoff draining to it (treatment volume).
You must also produce a diffuse pollution steading assessment.
It is important that the assessment clearly identifies the source of the run-off to be collected, where it currently discharges to (e.g. river) and the pathway - how the run-off gets from where it originates to the watercourse.
Requirements
- bund height must be less than 1.3 metres, unless designed by a qualified engineer
- fencing must be provided to protect people and livestock.
- only run-off which currently discharges direct to a watercourse or
freshwater drain and which does not fall within the definition of slurry may be conveyed to a sediment trap / bund * - run-off from pesticide handling or washdown areas must not be conveyed to a sediment trap / bund
- where a rural sustainable drainage system pond or wetland is being used in conjunction with the sediment trap, the pond or wetland must be located downstream of the sediment trap
* Unless the run-off is being conveyed to a constructed farm wetland designed in accordance with the Constructed Farm Wetland Design Manual – Scottish Environment Protection Agency / Northern Ireland Environment Agency – 2008.
Payment
You can claim:
- excavate and form sediment trap – £10.50 per square metre
- create bund – £7.20 per linear metre
Inspections
The inspectors will check:
- the location and extent of the sediment trap
- the length of the newly created bund
- bund height is less than 1.3 metres, unless designed by a qualified engineer
- fencing is provided to protect people and livestock
- only run-off which does not fall within the definition of slurry or silage effluent is conveyed to a sediment trap / bund *
- run-off from pesticide handling or wash-down areas is not conveyed to a sediment trap / bund
* Unless the run-off is being conveyed to a constructed farm wetland designed in accordance with the Constructed Farm Wetland Design Manual – Scottish Environment Protection Agency / Northern Ireland Environment Agency – 2008.
Additional guidance
Recent changes
| Section | Change |
|---|---|
| Spatial targeting | We've updated the target area map |
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