Solution for 21 September cryptic crossword clue

Hard getting across river basin (6)

Solution – trough

When I tell you this is a container clue, this won't mean much unless you have been following along for a wee while.  What it means is that the solution is found by putting one word around something else.

Hard = tough

And tough is "across" ie round something that means 'river' – in this case "r" as an abbreviation for river.

T + r +ough = trough – which is a sort of basin – often a large one for animals to drink out of.