New Drainage & Groundworks Bank Quay, Warrington

This is a question we often get for rural properties. A septic tank is a simple holding tank where solids sink to the bottom and wastewater flows out to a drainage field to be cleaned by the soil. A sewage treatment plant is more advanced; it uses mechanical parts and bacteria to actively treat the waste inside the tank, producing much cleaner water that can often be discharged into a ditch or watercourse (with the correct permit). We can advise on which is the best and most compliant solution for your home.

A soakaway is essentially a large, cleverly designed pit, usually filled with rubble or plastic crates, that is dug in your garden. It collects surface water runoff from your roof, patio, or driveway and allows it to slowly and safely soak away into the surrounding ground. They are a highly effective way to prevent puddles, waterlogging, and localised flooding on your property. If you are building a new patio or extension, building regulations will often require you to have an effective soakaway system in place.

Connecting a new home or development to the public sewer is a complex job that requires professional expertise. The process typically involves an application to the local water authority (like United Utilities), careful excavation to lay the new pipes at the correct gradient, and then making the physical connection to the main sewer in the road or path. The work must be inspected and signed off. Our experienced team can manage this entire process for you.

Yes, almost certainly. You will need to connect any new toilets, sinks, or washing machines in your extension to your home's foul water drainage system. You also need to manage the rainwater that will run off the new roof. This often involves extending existing pipes or installing new gullies and connecting them to a soakaway or surface water drain. If you are building over or close to an existing public drain, you will also need a CCTV drain survey and a 'Build Over Agreement' from the water company before you start. We can help with all of it.

It's vital to keep these two separate. Foul water is all the wastewater that comes from inside your home – from toilets, sinks, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines. It's contaminated and must go to the sewer or a treatment plant. Surface water is just rainwater that runs off your roof and driveway. This clean water should ideally go to a soakaway or a separate surface water drain to prevent overwhelming the public sewers during heavy rain.