Professional Soakaway Installation in Bank Quay, Warrington

A soakaway is a simple but clever bit of underground engineering. It’s essentially a pit, traditionally filled with rubble but now more commonly constructed with modern plastic crates, that you pipe your surface water into. This allows rainwater from your roof, patio, or driveway to collect and then slowly and safely soak into the surrounding ground. You would need a new soakaway if you are building an extension, a new driveway, or if your property struggles with puddles and waterlogging after heavy rain. It's a crucial part of an effective surface water drainage system, preventing storm water from overwhelming the public sewers.

Not every property is right for a soakaway. The success of the installation depends almost entirely on the type of ground you have. Heavy clay soils, for instance, don't let water drain away very well, which would make a soakaway ineffective. We also need to consider the level of the local water table and make sure the installation is a safe distance from your home's foundations and your property boundary. Before any work begins, our engineers will conduct a professional site survey and a percolation test to determine if a soakaway is a viable solution for you.

The installation job is a multi-stage process that our experienced team handles from start to finish. First, we perform a percolation test to confirm the ground's suitability and calculate the required size. Then, our groundworks team will carefully excavate the area to the correct dimensions. We install the soakaway crates, which are wrapped in a special membrane to stop silt getting in, and connect the new drain pipes from your property. Finally, we backfill the hole, compact the ground, and tidy the area, leaving your property clean.

A percolation test, or 'perc test', is the most important first step in any new soakaway project. It's a scientifically-backed method we use to measure how quickly water drains away from a test pit dug on your property. The results of this survey tell our engineers everything they need to know: if a soakaway will work at all, and if so, how large it needs to be to cope with the amount of rainwater it will receive. Performing this test is a requirement of Building Regulations and it's something a professional company will always do to guarantee the work is successful for years to come.

Yes, there are strict UK regulations for any new drainage work, and soakaways are no exception. Building Regulations (Part H) state that a soakaway must be located at least five metres away from any building and a safe distance from property boundaries. The primary goal is to manage surface water effectively without causing a nuisance to neighbours or creating any risk of damp or subsidence to your property. Our team is fully versed in these regulations, so you can have peace of mind that your new installation will be completely compliant.

A modern crate soakaway, when professionally installed in suitable ground, is a very long-lasting solution. You can expect it to function effectively for decades. The key to its longevity is preventing silt and debris from entering the system and clogging it up. The best maintenance you can do is to keep your gutters and the connecting drain pipes clean. We can advise on fitting leaf guards and silt traps as part of the service. For commercial clients or properties with heavy leaf fall, we can also provide a planned drainage maintenance service to keep everything flowing perfectly.