Soakaways
What Is a Soakaway and How Does It Work?
A soakaway—also known as an infiltration or attenuation system—is a subsurface drainage solution that collects excess surface water and allows it to percolate naturally back into the ground. It prevents flooding, manages runoff, and protects your property from water damage without relying on mains sewers.
How Does a Soakaway Work?
Our soakaway installations combine simple geology with robust construction. Here’s how we install soakaways in The South of England and across the UK:
- Site Survey & Design: We conduct a percolation test and site assessment to confirm suitability, then design the soakaway to match your rainfall load and ground conditions.
- Excavation: We carefully dig the required pit to the designed dimensions, ensuring minimal disruption to surrounding areas.
- Base Preparation: A layer of clean, crushed stone or a modular crate system is installed to create void space for water storage.
- Geotextile Lining: We wrap the stone or crates in a permeable geotextile membrane to prevent fines from clogging the voids.
- Backfill & Compact: The remainder of the pit is backfilled with stone, topped with clean backfill material, and compacted to finish flush with the surface.
- Connection & Handover: Your gutter downpipes, yard gullies or surface drains are connected into the soakaway, and we provide full documentation including as-built drawings.
This trench-based system avoids the need for mains connections, is fully compliant with UK SuDS regulations, and is suitable for both residential and commercial sites.
Where Can Soakaways Be Used?
Soakaways are ideal for:
- Roof water from gutters and downpipes
- Driveway and patio runoff
- Yard and car park drainage
- Surface water gullies and yard gullies
- Attenuation in greenfield or brownfield developments
Benefits of Using a Soakaway
- Flood Prevention: Reduces risk of surface water flooding around your property
- Environmentally Friendly: Supports natural groundwater recharge without using public sewers
- Low Maintenance: Simple, robust design requires minimal upkeep
- Cost-Effective: Cheaper than deep sewer connections and provides long-term savings
- Regulation-Compliant: Meets UK SuDS and building control requirements
At Alton Facility Services, we design and install professional soakaways in The South of England and across the UK, ensuring efficient surface water management and peace of mind.
Benefits of Soakaways vs. Traditional Drainage Systems
When managing surface water, you can connect to the mains sewer or install a soakaway. While sewer connections work, soakaways offer unique advantages for properties in The South of England. Below, we compare the two approaches.
Traditional Sewer Connection
- How It Works: Surface water is channelled via pipes directly into the public sewer network.
- Pros: Immediate disposal off-site; fully managed by water authority.
- Cons: Often requires deep excavations, long trench runs, and public sewer adoption agreements. Can incur ongoing discharge fees and risk surcharge during heavy rainfall.
On-Site Soakaway
- How It Works: Collects rainwater in a subsurface chamber or crate system, then gradually soaks it into surrounding soil.
- Pros:
- Cost Savings: No sewer connection fees or surface water charges.
- Flood Prevention: Reduces load on public sewers and minimises flood risk on-site.
- Environmentally Friendly: Recharges groundwater naturally and supports SuDS compliance.
- Low Maintenance: Once installed, a soakaway requires minimal upkeep compared to pumps or traps.
- Cons: Requires suitable ground conditions (percolation test) and adequate space. Not ideal for very clay-heavy or high-water-table sites.
When to Choose a Soakaway
- You have sufficient land and good infiltration rates in The South of England.
- You wish to avoid sewer connection costs or surface water charges.
- You’re aiming for SuDS compliance on new builds, extensions, or commercial developments.
- You’d like a low-maintenance, sustainable drainage solution that mitigates local flood risk.
For properties in The South of England, soakaways provide a reliable, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to mains drainage. Speak to our team to see if a soakaway suits your site conditions and project needs.
Signs Your Property Needs a Soakaway
Recognising the need for a soakaway early can save you from waterlogging, damp and planning headaches. Look out for these warning signs in The South of England:
- Pooled Water: Surface water lingering in driveways, patios or low spots long after rain stops.
- Damp or Flooded Basements: Groundwater seeping into cellars or underfloor voids.
- Slow Infiltration: Rainwater takes ages to drain away from lawns or landscaped areas.
- Silt or Debris Build-Up: Gullies and soak pits filling with silt and detritus quickly after storms.
- Local Flooding: Neighbours experiencing similar run-off issues during heavy rainfall.
- Planning Conditions: Your building control approval or planning permission requires SuDS or on-site attenuation.
If you’re seeing any of these issues, a professionally designed soakaway system can manage your surface water sustainably and prevent future problems.
Our Soakaway Installation Process – Step by Step in The South of England
When you choose Alton Facility Services for soakaway installation in The South of England, you benefit from a fully managed service designed to collect, attenuate and disperse surface water safely. Here’s our detailed process:
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Site Assessment & Percolation Test:
We carry out a full site survey and percolation (PER) test to measure how quickly water infiltrates the soil. This tells us the appropriate size and type of soakaway for your ground conditions in The South of England.
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Design & Planning:
Based on the PER results and your property’s drainage requirements, we design a soakaway system—calculating attenuation volume, pipework runs and overflow provisions to meet UK SuDS and Building Regs.
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Excavation & Preparation:
Our team carefully excavates the soakaway pit to the correct depth, preserving surrounding structures and utilities. We install geotextile membrane if required to prevent silt ingress.
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Soakaway Installation:
We place modular crate or stone-filled soakaway chambers (or stone-filled trenches) into the pit, connect the incoming pipework, and fit a rodding eye or inspection chamber for future access.
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Backfilling & Commissioning:
We backfill around the chambers with clean stone, reinstate the membrane, and compact the surrounding soil. Finally, we run water tests to confirm correct discharge rates and no blockages.
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Final Inspection & Handover:
A final site walk-through verifies levels, covers and surface reinstatement. You’ll receive full certification, PER test results, and “as-built” drawings for your records in The South of England.
Why Our Customers in The South of England Trust Our Soakaway Service
- Compliant Designs: Meets Building Regulations and SuDS requirements
- Durable Solutions: Modular crates or stone soakaways built to last decades
- Minimal Disruption: Neat excavations and professional reinstatement
- Local Expertise: Knowledge of ground conditions across The South of England
- Full Documentation: PER test reports, certification and maintenance guidance
Typical Soakaway Applications in The South of England
- New build and extension drainage attenuation
- Driveway, patio and garden surface water management
- Rainwater harvesting overflow storage
- Commercial forecourt and car park drainage
- SuDS features for planning and flood mitigation schemes
Whether you’re a homeowner, developer or commercial client in The South of England, our soakaway installations deliver reliable, compliant management of surface water—protecting your property and the environment.
Soakaway FAQs for The South of England and the UK
❓ What is a soakaway and how does it work?
A soakaway is an underground chamber or stone-filled pit that collects surface water (e.g. rainwater from roofs, drives and patios) and allows it to slowly infiltrate into the surrounding soil, reducing flood risk and surface water run-off.
❓ Is a soakaway suitable for my property in The South of England?
Most properties in The South of England can use a soakaway if the ground is permeable. We perform a percolation (PER) test on your soil to confirm suitability before design and installation.
❓ How long does a soakaway last?
With correct design, installation and minimal silt ingress, a well-built modular crate or stone soakaway can last 25–50 years. We use geotextile membranes and inspection chambers to extend lifespan.
❓ Do soakaways require maintenance?
Yes—periodic checks every 2–3 years help ensure surface water inlets are clear of debris and silt. We can provide a simple maintenance service to jet or vacuum the chamber if needed.
❓ How much does a soakaway cost in The South of England?
Cost depends on ground conditions, required attenuation volume and chamber type. We offer free site surveys and tailored quotes across The South of England.
❓ What regulations govern soakaway installations?
All soakaways must comply with Building Regulations Part H (drainage and waste disposal) and the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) guidelines. We handle all design calculations and approvals.
❓ Can soakaways handle heavy rainfall events?
Yes—our designs include overflow pipes or attenuation volumes sized for local rainfall intensities, ensuring safe dispersal during heavy storms in The South of England.
❓ How do I book a soakaway consultation?
Call us on 01420 561661 or contact us online. We’ll arrange your site survey, PER test and bespoke soakaway design for your property in The South of England.
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