With water shortages and the cost of mains water increasing year on year, many homeowners and businesses are looking towards the Government for help with funding. The good news is that for systems that fit the criteria there are Rainwater Harvesting Grants and Water Capital Grants available in the UK.
At this time, however there are no grants for domestic rainwater harvesting schemes.
Enhanced capital allowance scheme for water efficient technologies
Available to businessess of all sizes and types, the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme for Water provides a 100 per cent first year allowance for some water efficient technologies.
With regard to rainwater harvesting, the scheme supports innvestments in rainwater harvesting equipment intended specifically for the collection, treatment storage and distribution of rainwater for any of the following uses:
- non drinking water applications in the built environment such as toilet flushing and washing machines; with the exception of water used for drinking, personal washing (including brushing teeth), cooking, food and drink preparation, and food and drink production;
- process or cooling water in industry or cleaning water;
- irrigation, wash down or feed water in agriculture and horticulture
Read the latest information about the Water efficient enhanced capital allowances in this section of the gov.uk website.
England
Countryside Stewardship Scheme
The government recognises that custodians of the land have an important role to play in water management, sustainability and the reduction of widespread water pollution from agriculture. Farmers and land managers are eligible to apply for a grants of under the countryside stewardship scheme where their land and scheme fits the criteria.
RP16: Rainwater Goods
£11.40 per metre can be claimed for the installation of guttering and downpipes on new farm buildings or covered on indoor yards under the Rainwater Goods Grant.
New guttering and downpipes (rainwater goods) will prevent the discharge of clean water on to fouled yard areas, which will help reduce risk of water pollution and are obviously the first step to collecting rainwater for underground or above ground rainwater storage.
RP17: Storage tanks underground
£350 per cubic metre can be claimed for the installation of underground rainwater storage tank and pump.
The aim of the Storage Tanks Underground Grant is to collect and contain rainwater and help to keep clean and dirty water separate. The stored cleaned rainwater can then be used for a number of tasks around the farm such as yard wash down, instead of using potable mains water supplies.
We sell a number of above below ground rainwater filters, submersible pumps and kits that may be suitable for this grant, please check the criteria closely and consult with your local Catchment Sensitive Farming officer.
RP18: Above ground tanks
£100 per cubic metre can be claimed for the installation of above ground rainwater storage tanks.
The aim of the Above Ground Tanks Grant is to collect and contain rainwater and help to keep clean and dirty water separate. The stored cleaned rainwater can then be used for a number of tasks around the farm such as yard wash down, instead of using potable mains water supplies.
We sell a number of above ground tanks and kits that may be suitable for this grant, please check the criteria closely and consult with your local Catchment Sensitive Farming officer.
RP19: First flush rainwater diverters and downpipe filters
£125 per unit can be claimed for the installation of downpipe filters or first flush rainwater diverters to your rainwater storage tank.
The aim of the Rain Water Diverter Grant is divert and filter potentially contaminated roof water to keep leaves, debris and other contaminants out of diverters, clean water drains and water storage tanks. This will help provide clean water that can be used for a number of tasks around the farm such as yard washing, instead of wasting potable water supplies.
We sell a number of above ground tanks and kits that may be suitable for this grant, please check the criteria closely and consult with your local Catchment Sensitive Farming officer.
RP28: Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores)
£62 per square metre but only in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture or with support from a Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) officer.
This
RP28 Roofing Grant can be used for roofing a sprayer washdown area but only where a bunded concrete pad is being used and all pesticide washings drain to a holding tank (sump), without an associated drive-over biobed.
PA1: Implementation plan
£1,100 can be claimed to fund a water management plan where capital items and land management options are needed to redirect or manage water running across the holding. It needs written permission from Natural England. See more information about the Implementation Plan Grant.
Northern Ireland
For Businesses in Northern Ireland, read more about all of the schemes below on the Invest NI website.
Resource Efficiency Capital Grant
If your business has identified a project that will reduce the consumption of water (or other resources), Invest NI can provide investment support. The Resource Efficiency Capital Grant offers support of up to £40k to help towards the cost of purchasing resource efficient equipment that will drive productivity in your business.
Manage business energy and waste
Free consultancy support to help your business manage and implement resource efficiency projects, they offer up to five days of free consultancy support. The manage business energy and waste scheme is available to companies with a total resource spend of over £30,000 a year.
Scotland
Scotish Rural Development Scheme
The Scottish Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 delivers Pillar 2 of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It funds economic, environmental and social measures for the benefit of rural Scotland. Within that scheme there are several Grants that may be relevant to Rainwater Harvesting Systems. Please check with the relevant scheme adviser before relying on any grant to finance purchases.
Small Farms Grant Scheme
These Small Farm Grant Schemes are designed to aid and develop agricultural production on small or recently established agricultural businesses – sustaining the economic basis of farming and helping retain people in rural communities.
Appendix Ai.10 mentions the provision or improvement of amenities, including water supplies.
Appendix A.ii talks about ancillary works such ... rainwater disposal system ...
There are not many guidelines on the Small Farm Grants Scheme in Scotland, so our best advice, if you are interested in installing a Rainwater Harvesting System on your farm in Scotland is to chat to your local adviser to find out what they recommend.
Wales
Glastir Small Grants Scheme - Water
In Wales the Farm Business Grant - Yard coverings includes provision for above ground rainwater harvesting (max skize 10,000L) and below ground rainwater harvesting tanks (max size 20,000L) with appropriate filter systems and guttering.
[article first publish Sept 2018, updated September 2021]