Follow these 6 simple steps to install soakaway crates – both quickly and correctly:
- Step 1 – Create space.
- Step 2 – Prepare the crates.
- Step 3 – Prepare the base.
- Step 4 – Hook up to the drainage system.
- Step 5 – Cover the crates.
- Step 6 – Replace any ground that was removed.
Where should a soakaway be placed?
A soakaway must always be the first choice but must not be used: Within 5m of a building or road, 2.5m of a boundary or in an area of unstable land in ground where the water table reaches the bottom of the soakaway at any time of the year.
How deep should a soak away be?
How deep should a soakaway be? The Perforated pipe should be laid at a minimum depth of 200mm and a maximum depth of 700mm. This enables aerobic contact between the effluent and the drainage stone and soil particles. This leads to aerobic digestion and effectively treats the effluent.
How do you unblock a garden soakaway?
The most common method to clear out a soakaway blockage is by inserting high-pressure water jets into the plastic crate itself. The water pressure forces accumulated silt and leaves out of the crate’s small channels, thereby leaving the soakaway clear to do its job as normal.
How do I install a soakaway in my garden? – Related Questions
How do you know if you have a soak away?
If you’re wondering ‘how can I tell if I have a soakaway? ‘, simply follow the rainwater pipes down from the side of your house into your garden. If they lead to a slightly lowered area where your lawn dips, there’s a chance you have a soakaway installed.
How many years does a soakaway last?
Soakaways should last the life of the house, at least 100 years but only if installed and maintained correctly.
How do you unblock a soak hole?
Cesspits and soak holes are small catchment/drains used to divert surface flooding. Commonly cesspits tend to block up due to excess silt, debris, rubbish and leaves.
Soak holes can be repaired a number of ways:
- Vacuum loading sucking out excess silt.
- Drilled out with inter rock drilling.
- or ultimately, made new.
What do you do when your soakaway is full?
HOW TO FIX A BLOCKED SOAKAWAY
- 1: IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. Find the area where the flooding occurs, and look for the pipes that are close by.
- 2: TRY WATER JETS AND PRESSURE UNBLOCKING.
- 3: CONSIDER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT.
- 4: MOVE THE SOAKAWAY LOCATION.
- 5: USE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
What to do if soak pit is full?
Hence when such soak pit gets flooded and starts over flowing you have no option but to hire a tanker with pump (Generally made available by the municipality) to suck / pump out the waste water and empty the soak pit.
How do Soakaways get blocked?
It can be hard to tell exactly what has caused your blocked soakaway, but these are the three most common reasons: A build up of silt within the soakaway. Compacted soil above and around the soakaway. A collapse in the pipes feeding the soakaway causing a disruption in the flow of rainwater.
How does a soakaway look like?
They look like a series of perforated pipes laid in trenches in an area of land around your property, usually your garden or a field. The area around these pipes will then be covered over, usually with stones or gravel and turf, with the treated foul water being discharged into this land.
Do Soakaways need emptying?
How long does a soakaway last? Septic tanks need regular maintenance to keep them running efficiently. Maintenance includes emptying a septic tank of the sludge that builds up so the wastewater disposal system, including the soakaway, can still function. Septic tanks need to be emptied and serviced every 12 months.
Are Soakaways good?
Soakaways are an efficient drainage system for surface water run-off, with little to no drawbacks if installed correctly. The benefits include: Reducing pressure on overloaded mains drainage systems. Potential of bill rebate for surface drainage costs from your sewerage company.
What is the difference between drainage and soakaway?
What is the difference between a drainage field and a soakaway? To summarise the difference between the two, a drainage field is designed to add additional treatment to the water. Whereas a soakaway is designed to store a large volume of water allowing time for it to release into the ground (i. e. in a heavy downpour).
What is a natural soakaway?
A soakaway is a buried drainage feature which seeks to manage surface water on the site and infiltrate into the ground, rather than discharging to an offsite location such as a watercourse or sewer.
Do Soakaways smell?
Common signs of a soakaway failure are effluent pooling on the ground surface or foul odors (bad smells) coming from the septic tank or drains, but also visible pollution of nearby ditches and streams, slow flushing toilets or gurgling sounds from the drains, overflowing toilet, shower, or bath and dips in the ground
What is the best material for a soakaway?
Geotextile membrane
Non-woven geotextiles are best for drainage or filtration and are easy to fit. Simply wrap each side of your soakaway crate in the geotextile fabric and fit into place with staples or strong tape.