Soakaways are an essential component of any drainage system, as they provide an effective means of removing excess water from the surface and groundwater levels. These systems are typically constructed in gardens, driveways, and other low-lying areas to prevent waterlogging and flooding. To ensure that they continue to function optimally, regular soakaway maintenance is required.
A soakaway can be a crate system or, less commonly these days, a pit filled with gravel and stones that provides a permeable surface for water to drain into the ground. The water is then naturally filtered through the surrounding soil and rocks and eventually re-enters the groundwater table. Soakaways are commonly used in areas where the soil structure does not allow for traditional drainage systems, such as surface water drainage ditches or connected to mains drainage.
Soakaway maintenance involves two simple steps to ensure that your system is functioning as it should.
Remove Debris: The first step in soakaway maintenance is to remove any debris that may have accumulated in the soakaway. This can include leaves, twigs, and other organic matter. Clearing this debris will ensure that water can flow freely through the system.
Check the Structure: Inspect the structure of the soakaway to ensure that it's in good condition. Check for cracks, breaks, or other signs of damage that could cause water to leak out. If you find any damage, it's important to repair it as soon as possible to prevent waterlogging and potential damage to your property.
Yes, Soakaways are designed to last for many years and are generally low maintenance. However, they can become clogged over time, reducing their effectiveness and potentially causing problems with waterlogging. This can happen when leaves, dirt, and other debris accumulate in the soakaway, blocking the flow of water. If left unattended, this can result in water backing up and potentially causing damage to your property.
Quite simply, we are the best!
We are always on hand, whether it be a routine visit, or an emergency call out to offer you the very best in cesspit emptying. We pride ourselves on having a modern fleet of vehicles containing the highest tech equipment to ensure that we can provide you with the high levels of reliability and efficiency that we constantly achieve.
Our friendly and knowledgeable office team, are always available to discuss or advise on any of your cesspit requirements or simply to schedule in your cesspit emptying at a convenient time and date that suits you.
On site, our team of dedicated, friendly and fully trained engineers will ensure that your emptying is carried out to the highest standard with minimal disruption. Our engineers are always willing and fully encouraged to spend time answering any questions you may have regarding your sewage system.
For both domestic and commercial properties, a routine soakaway inspection every 12-24 months helps identify silt-build-up, collapsed drains or soil compaction. Early intervention in soakaway maintenance keeps the system working efficiently and avoids costly replacement down the line.
Common indicators of soakaway failure include surface flooding or pooling, slow drainage from gullies, a waterlogged garden or surface, unusual smells around the soakaway area and toilets or drains backing up. These signs usually signal it’s time for soakaway maintenance or repair.
Our soakaway maintenance service includes inspecting the soakaway crate or pipe network, clearing silt and debris, jet-cleaning feed pipes as necessary, checking soil infiltration rates, and producing a detailed report on condition and any required works to ensure your system remains compliant and functional.
We plan soakaway maintenance to minimise disruption. For example, we can isolate the feed pipes for a short period, but in most cases the property’s drainage remains operational throughout. Turnaround is typically quick so you can return to normal use soon after.
Regular soakaway maintenance increases infiltration efficiency, reduces flood risk, extends the system lifespan, lowers the risk of environmental pollution and safeguards compliance with regulations for both domestic and commercial systems.
Ensure the soakaway access cover is clear and safe, check for any surface water build-up or vegetation over the system, provide any previous inspection or maintenance records, and let us know if it’s a commercial soakaway – so we bring the correct equipment for your site.
