How To Make A Soakaway For A Septic Tank? (Solved)

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Excavate a hole 300mm square to a depth 300mm below the proposed invert level of the soakaway pipes. Fill the 300mm square hole to at least the 300mm mark and allow to soakaway over night. On the next day, fill to the 300mm mark again and observe the time it takes to soakaway in seconds, from 70% full to 25% full.

Can I build my own soakaway?

Constructing a basic soak away is fairly simple you dig a hole in the ground and fill the hole with gravel available from most builders merchants. (The 20m flint gravel from amazon is Ideal).

How big should a septic tank soakaway be?

The minimum size a soakaway should be constructed to is 30m. Pipes should be laid on a 300mm layer of shingle or medium of up to 50mm. The trenches must be filled 50mm above perforated pipe and covered with a membrane and then filled in with soil.

How far should a soakaway be from a septic tank?

Minimum distances that the drainfield should be from: Buildings – 15 metres. Boundaries – 2 metres. Water abstraction point (well, spring, bore hole) – 50 metres.

How do you dig a soakaway?

Digging The Trench Your soakaway pipe should be laid to a fall of 1 in 40. So for every 4 meters of pipework the trench should slope down by 100mm. You can dig the soakaway pit and drainage trench by hand, using a shovel, or you can hire a mini digger to do the work for you.

How deep do I need to dig a soakaway?

Excavating the site The depth depends upon the location – if it’s under the garden or patio etc. it only needs to be 1310mm deep, but if its under your driveway it should be 1510mm deep to allow for a little more top fill. If you don’t want to dig that deep, check out our shallow dig soakaway options.

Do all septic tanks have a soakaway?

A soakaway is not usually needed with a sewage treatment plant, but it is required with a septic tank. This is because the water released by a septic tank is primary treated effluent, meaning it has only gone through one stage of treatment.

How do you calculate the size of a soakaway?

Where ground has good soakage (such as sand/gravel) then the size/volume of a crate type soakaway can be calculated as follows: Volume = Roof area being drained x (50mm rainfall rate per hr/3000). These soakaways are normally filled with clean brick/block/concrete pieces no larger than 150mm.

Can I use hardcore for a soakaway?

Hardcore, also known as stone infill, is the filling of the soakaway that should completely surround the pipe – finishing around 100mm above the pipe. Above the hardcore, an impervious layer, such as thick polythene, tarpaulin, or even a bed of concrete, should then be implemented.

How far must a soakaway be from a house?

How Far Should a Soakaway be From the House? You need to ensure its far enough from the structure to prevent damage — 5 metres is the accepted distance, but this also depends on the calculated size of the soakaway.

Is a septic tank the same as a soakaway?

A soakaway is a hole dug in the ground and filled with rubble and coarse stones, designed to disperse water back into the surrounding ground without flooding. A septic tank has two chambers and is buried underground in the same way as a cesspit.

Do I need building regs for a soakaway?

Why use a soakaway? Building Regulations require you to adequately dispose of stormwater from the building. You must use a soakaway if design criteria can be met. Discharging stormwater into a drain will only be allowed if soakaways or other infiltration methods are not suitable.

How long will a soakaway last?

How Long Do Soakaways Last? They should last the life of the house, at least 100 years but only if installed correctly and filters are used to prevent leaves and other material clogging the soakaway.

how to make a soakaway for a septic tank

What is a soakaway in a septic tank? What size does a soakaway for a septic tank need to be? Learn how to construct a soakaway for use with a septic tank. how to install a soakaway for a septic tank how to construct a soakaway for a septic tank Learn how to construct a soakaway for a septic tank. What is the operation of a septic tank soakaway? Is a soakaway required for septic tanks? What is the function of a septic tank and soakaway? How long does it take for a septic tank to soak away? What you need to know about building a septic tank and soakaway how to build a soakaway for a sewage treatment plant how to create a soakaway for a septic tank how to clear a clogged septic tank soakaway The term “septic tank soakaway” is used to refer to the installation of septic tank soakaway crates, septic tank soakaway design, the banning of septic tanks in the United Kingdom, the cost of installing a septic tank soakaway in clay soil, and the installation of a septic tank soakaway in the United Kingdom.

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Soak away for sewage effluent

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Sizing of a soak away

The size of the soak away (i.e., the area measured in square metres) is influenced by the number of bedrooms in the home as well as the porosity of the soil beneath the building. Currently, the Environment Agency demands that one person per bedroom and 0.5 individuals per home be included in this calculation. The only way to assess the porosity of the soil is to conduct an apercolation test.

Minimum soak away site distances

10-meter-distance (34-foot) from a stream or ditch It should be 50 meters (164 feet) away from water abstraction points, 15 meters (50 feet) away from any structure, and suitably remote from any other soak away, including roof water soak aways. 2 meters (7 feet) away from a border

If there is a groundwater source nearby, the soak away or drain field area should be downslope of the source
There should be no water supply pipes or subterranean utilities inside the soak away area
Otherwise, the area will be considered unsafe. It is not permitted to construct access roads, driveways, or paved areas within the soak away area. This comprises fields with tractor traffic and other agricultural activity

And The water table or bedrock shall never be more than 1.2m (4ft) below the bottom of the soak away trench at any point throughout its operation.

Construction of soak aways and drain fields

The construction of sewage effluent soak aways is meticulously planned and consists of ditches with pipes put on gravel or stone beds, topped with additional stone and a geotextile membrane, then backfilled with topsoil.

Use solid perforated foul drainage pipe with the slots/holes at the bottom, and lay it in trenches with a consistent gradient of no more than 1:200, according to the manufacturer. It is not permitted to use perforated ‘Flexicoil’ type pipe. A minimum depth of 200mm (8in) and a maximum depth of 700mm (28in) should be used for the installation of pipes in order to allow aerobic contact between the effluent and the soil particles. A single trench should not be longer than 30 meters (98 feet). Pipes should be set on a clean layer of shingle, gravel, or broken grade 1 stone (20mm–50mm) that is 300mm (12in) thick. Drainage ditches should be filled to a level 50mm (2in) above the pipe and coated with a layer of geotextile membrane to prevent silt from entering the system. Topsoil can be used to fill in the remaining space in the soak away trench. Drought-resistant drainage trenches should be between 300mm (12in) and 900mm (3ft) broad, with a minimum of one meter between parallel ditches of undisturbed land. This chamber should be constructed between the septic tank and the drain field to provide inspection and distribution. Layout of the soak away system should be in the form of a continuous loop or grid supplied from the inspection chamber, rather than as a straight pipe run with a “end.” A distribution chamber should be used to supply water to the soak away pipes. Using a methodology specified in the percolation test information below, the area of the soak away is computed by conducting a minimum of three percolation tests in the proposed drain field area over three consecutive days and calculating the size of the soak away.

Percolation tests for a soak away design

It is necessary to conduct a soil percolation test on the area where the septic tank or treatment plant soak away is intended to be installed before construction can begin. In this test, the rate at which soil absorbs a known volume of water is determined using a known volume of water. This is done to guarantee that the ground (soil) is suitable for a soak away, as well as that the soak away is correctly built for the situation at hand. Septic tanks must always be subjected to a percolation test before they may be used.

How to carry out a percolation test

It is recommended that a percolation test not be performed under unusual weather circumstances, and that if performed in the summer, the times should be raised by 30 percent to 50 percent, depending on the previous weather. Percolation testing is a technique.

Excavate a hole 300mm (12in) in diameter and 300mm (12in) below the anticipated septic tank or sewage treatment plant outlet
Create an accurate depth measurement by digging a vertical test hole. Remove all loose debris from the area
By driving 6 inch nails into the sidewalls of the percolation test hole, you may mark the hole 75mm (3in) from the bottom and 75mm (3in) from the top

This will help you find the hole later. Fill the test hole with water to a depth of at least 300mm, and then drain the water (12in). Allow for evaporation to take place overnight
Refill the test section with water to a depth of at least 300mm the next day (12in). Count the number of seconds it takes for the water to seep away from the 75 percent full level to the 25 percent full level. Divide this time by 150mm (6in), which is 50 percent of the 300mm (12in) depth (i.e. half of the total depth). When the water drops one millimeter, the average time in seconds (V) required is given as the response. At least three times, with at least two trial holes, should be completed the exam. It is necessary to take the average of the results from the tests.

When percolation tests show average values of V between 15 and 100, and the preliminary site assessment report and trial hole testing are favorable, drainage field soak away disposal should only be employed as a last resort. If the findings of a percolation test are fewer than 12 or greater than 100, the test is considered unsuccessful. This bare minimum guarantees that untreated wastewater does not permeate into ground water at an excessively high rate. It is doubtful that successful disposal will occur in a soak away drainage field if V is outside of these limits.

It is possible that you may be obliged to hire a contractor to do the percolation test.

Calculating the size of the soak away

The area (A) required for the soak away trench is determined by the computation and is expressed in square metres. V is the time in seconds it takes for the water level in the test hole to decrease by one millimeter. The maximum number of people that the unit is meant to serve is denoted by the letter p. In the case of sewage treatment facilities a = vp x 0.20 = area (A) For septic tanks, the area (A) is equal to Vp X 0.25. In order to determine the length of pipes necessary based on the width of the trench, further calculations must be performed.

Safety advice

Never inhale septic tank gases since they might cause you to pass out very rapidly.

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Septic Tank Drainage Fields

Drainage fields for septic tanks are an essential component of a septic system. A drainage field, which is sometimes referred to mistakenly as a soakaway, is much more than just a soakaway. A drainage field is a specially constructed network of perforated piping that is put in trenches in order to allow sewage to seep into the surrounding soil. They are intended to guarantee aerobic contact between wastewater and the subsoil. They are made of plastic. Drainage fields must be built to meet the specific requirements of each site, taking into account ground conditions, flow rates, property boundaries, and a variety of other criteria.

Permitting regulated infiltration of treated / partially treated sewage into the earth is essential. It is necessary to provide for further treatment of partly treated wastewater before it reaches the groundwater table.

The expression “soakaway” is often and incorrectly used in regard to septic tank and sewage treatment plant discharges into the ground:

When dealing with surface water (such as precipitation from roofs or paved surfaces), soakaways come in handy. A soakaway is a pit or structure that is often filled with debris or drainage cages)

Septic tanks may only discharge to the earth if they are connected to a drainage field. Because of the polluting of surface waters, septic tanks that discharge into watercourses are unlawful and in violation of environmental legislation, and their operators may eventually face substantial fines as a result of the pollution. Depending on the flow rate and other parameters, sewage treatment facilities can discharge to drainage fields or to a surface watercourse / ditch. Construction of a drainage field in accordance with Building Regulations (Part H) Disposal of Sewage and Drainage Systems

Are there drainage field regulations?

Yes. Design and construction of septic system drainage fields must be completed by professionals that are certified and experienced in their industry. Drainage fields are subject to certain restrictions, which are as follows:

The Environment Agency – Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment (England) Regulations 2014
British Standards BS 6297:2007 A1 2008

British Standards BS 62 The Building Regulations 2010 are a set of rules that govern the construction of buildings (Part H) Drainage and Wastewater Disposal
British Water COP – Drainage Fields for the disposal of septic tank and sewage treatment plant effluent
British Water COP – Drainage Fields for the disposal of sewage treatment plant effluent

If you have been notified by a contractor that a new drainage field is being constructed, be certain that the contractor is following these laws. These laws cover a wide range of areas of the design and building process, providing answers to queries such as the following:

It is your responsibility to guarantee that contractors who have been hired to create a new drainage field do so in compliance with these laws. There are various areas of the design and building process covered by these laws, and they answer problems like:-

You may be subject to enforcement action from the Environment Agency if you have an existing drainage field that was not created in line with these requirements and this results in groundwater being contaminated. If you are having a new system installed and it does not comply with these laws, you may be subject to prosecution once more.

Is my drainage field legal?

There are several different kinds of “soakaways.” Only a drainage field that has been properly designed will meet the requirements of the legislation. Here are a couple of instances of drainage fields that were improperly constructed:

Soakaway crates

Containers such as crates or baskets are not permitted in drainage fields. Despite the fact that many individuals claim to be, the reality is that they are not. Keep an eye out for contractors or vendors that claim to be such! Perforated piping is the only type of pipework permitted under Environmental Agency regulations!

Herringbone drainage

Drainage fields should not be irrigated using Herringbone Land Drains because they are not appropriate for drainage fields.

For regulated effluent distribution across the drainage field, perforated pipes must be installed in a continuous loop throughout the drainage field.

Soakaway pits

No way, not at all! Even for surface water soakaways, this is not acceptable! If anybody recommends digging a hole in the ground filled with rubble, simply walk away. Quickly!

Can a borehole be used for a septic tank soakaway?

The quick answer is that sure, it is possible. The Building Regulations and British Standard BS6297, on the other hand, make no mention of the use of boreholes for the disposal of septic or treatment plant effluent. Although the Environment Agency believes that these options should only be adopted if there are no other options, In order to contemplate a borehole discharge, a thorough analysis of the situation would be required to assure the preservation of groundwater. The point discharge provides a larger danger of groundwater contamination, as well as a considerable risk of biofouling, which has the potential to reduce the hydraulic efficiency of the system over time.

How can DJ Wilkinson help?

We have over 20 years of expertise in the drainage industry and can provide you with unbiased, competent, and useful guidance. We provide a wide range of services for homeowners, developers, and self-builders, including:

We offer unbiased, professional, and helpful advise based on our more than 20 years of draining expertise. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of individual homeowners and developers, as well as self-builders.

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Soakaways and Drainage Fields

The rules for taking a Soakaway have changed. The usage of a soakaway is no longer considered appropriate practice. Only rainwater from gutters and yard drains is permitted to be discharged through a Soakaway. Each and every drop of effluent from septic tanks and sewage treatment facilities must be’soaked away’ in a Drainage Field that has been correctly planned and built. Because all sewage works are now regulated by Building Control at your local council, under Section H2 of the Building Regulations, this drainage field and related pipewark must be approved by a Building Inspector.

The restrictions outlined above apply to any soakaway drainfield that has been built since Section H2 was established in January 2000.

The maximum volume of discharge each day to a soakaway drainfield is 2000 litres, which is equal to the equivalent of 13 people’s worth of water.

Soakaways versus Soakaway Drainage Fields

The regulations for taking a Soakaway have been revised. The usage of a soakaway is no longer considered appropriate. Only rainwater from gutters and yard drains are permitted to be discharged through a Soakaway. Each and every drop of effluent from septic tanks and sewage treatment facilities must be’soaked away’ in a Drainage Field that has been correctly planned and constructed. All sewage works are now governed by Building Control at your local council, under Section H2 of the Building Regulations, which means that this drainage field and related pipewark must be approved by a Building Inspector.

Since Section H2 was established in January 2000, the requirements outlined above apply to any soakaway drainfield that has been constructed since that time.

Approximately 13 people’s worth of water may be discharged into a soakaway drainfield in a single day. Sewage treatment plant wastewater is discharged onto a soakaway drainage area.

It does not rain on a daily basis. However, sewage effluent flows EVERY day, with no dry days to allow the pit to drain. This results in soakaway pits that are always full and never draining when it is not raining. After a while, the pit becomes overflowing, and the sewage either “backs up” into the pipes or breaks through the ground’s surface.

However, sewage effluent surface pollution is a very distinct issue from rainwater bubbling to the surface of the ‘pit’ during harsh weather conditions, and hence requires immediate attention. If you are experiencing soakaway problems with your present system, please visitSewage Problems. Also see Failed soakaway drainfield insurance claims for further information.

It is required by the Building Regulations (as well as British Standard BS 6297 2007) that the sewage effluent be in continual touch with the AEROBIC particles of the soil. Soakaway trenches are not permitted since the aerobic soil layer finishes at one metre below ground level.

Why? Because wastewater effluent, even when it has been treated, includes germs and viruses that can be harmful to humans. These must be digested by the aerobic native soil bacteria, which cannot survive more than one metre deep earth due to the lack of oxygen in that environment.

Test 1 – The Environment Agency Test For Soakaway Contamination Issues

Make sure that your soakaway drainage field location is not in an area that has been designated by the Environment Agency as aGroundwater Source Protection Zone 1. Then it is likely that the groundwater under your soakaway has been taken and is being utilized for drinking water by a borehole located somewhere nearby. This means you will not be permitted to contaminate it with sewage effluent bacteria and viruses from either your septic tank or your sewage treatment plant soakaway drainfield, nor will you be permitted to have either of these.

Test 2 – The Trial Site Assessment Hole For Groundwater Levels

The Assessment Hole for the Trial Site (TSAH) This is a single, big hole that must be at least 2 metres deep and 1 metre square in order to function. Its purpose is to establish whether or not the water table, or bedrock, ever reaches within 1.5 meters of the bottom of the soakaway drainfield pipe. Many construction sites in the United Kingdom fail this critical inspection, and many builders and tank installers neglect to conduct one until it is too late. If this test fails, it is futile to conduct any more percolation tests if you are considering the installation of an underground drainage field because your site has already failed the test.

Test 3 – The Percolation Tests For Soakaway Soil Porosity

Percolation tests are performed in order to determine the porosity of the soil. If the water soaks away too quickly or too slowly, a soakaway drainage field is not authorized to be installed. In general, clay soils will fail terribly in the tests, and it is not worth the time and effort to conduct the tests on them. Since the TSAH has been in effect for considerably longer than this test, it is the one that most people think of when they think of soakaway testing. During the Percolation Test, the porosity of the soil immediately below and around the 300mm of drainage stone in the trench beneath the pipe is determined.

BS6297 2007 specifies that the maximum depth permitted for soakaway pipes is 700mm, with a minimum of 300mm of washed drainage stone below this depth in the trench.

It is astonishing how many surveyors do these tests too thoroughly, resulting in incorrect results. It is possible to tackle the difficulties of clay soil percolation failures using our above ground mound soakaway design (Copyright WTE Ltd. 1996).

Minimum soakaway drainage field distances

ALL components of the soakaway drainage field must meet a minimum of the following requirements:

It is necessary that all elements of the soakaway drainage field meet a minimum of the following specifications:

Drainfield Rules and Regulations in Other Areas

Areas with soakaways and drainfields should be located downslope from groundwater sources. Within the soakaway drainfield region, there should be no water supply pipelines or subsurface utilities present. Within the soakaway drainfield region, there should be no access roads, driveways, or paved areas at all. Fields with tractor and farm vehicle traffic are included in this category. The water table or bedrock must never be within one metre of the bottom of the soakaway drainage pipe itself at any point during its operation. This often implies that it must be at least 2 metres below ground level at all times. Approximately 700mm is the maximum depth permitted for soakaway drainfield pipes. There is a maximum length of 30 metres for a single pipe run. The system cannot be flooded if rainfall is permitted to enter.

Areas with soakaways and drainfields should be located downslope from groundwater sources. Within the soakaway drainfield region, there should be no water supply pipelines or subsurface utilities present. Within the soakaway drainfield region, there should be no access roads, driveways, or paved areas at all. Fields with tractor and farm vehicle traffic are included in this category. The water table or bedrock must never be within one metre of the bottom of the soakaway drainage pipe itself at any point during its operation.

Approximately 700mm is the maximum depth permitted for soakaway drainfield pipes.

The system cannot be flooded if rainfall is permitted to enter.

Areas with soakaways and drainfields should be located downslope from groundwater sources. Within the soakaway drainfield region, there should be no water supply pipelines or subsurface utilities present. Within the soakaway drainfield region, there should be no access roads, driveways, or paved areas at all. Fields with tractor and farm vehicle traffic are included in this category. The water table or bedrock must never be within one metre of the bottom of the soakaway drainage pipe itself at any point during its operation. This often implies that it must be at least 2 metres below ground level at all times. Approximately 700mm is the maximum depth permitted for soakaway drainfield pipes. There is a maximum length of 30 metres for a single pipe run. The system cannot be flooded if rainfall is permitted to enter.

The soakaway pipe on the left is the one that should be used in this situation. These provisions of the Building Regulations are unambiguous. It is prohibited for soakaway drainfilds to utilize the less expensive land drainage pipe on the right, therefore do not allow your installation to use it. Drainfields for the Soakaway River Basin

Cross section of the drain

The materials that must be utilized are depicted in the diagram above.

Minimum and Maximum depths allowed

The depths of the soakaway drainfield drains are shown in the table above, with the minimum and maximum depths permitted.

Septic Tank Soakaway Drainfields

A septic tank soakaway drainage field system fulfills two functions:- it serves as a septic tank soakaway drainage field system.

Additionally, it makes advantage of naturally occurring aerobic soil bacteria to clean up any remaining contaminants in the effluent. It disperses septic effluent into the soil without producing difficulties due to soil saturation and ‘Backing-up’ of the system
It is environmentally friendly
And it is cost-effective.

Over 60% of all sites in the UKFAILthe three mandatory tests required to install a septic tank soakaway. If you can’t have a soakaway drainage field, you can’t have aseptic tankand must consider using asewage treatment plantinstead.

The three tests are as follows:

The location must not be located inside a Groundwater Source Protection Zone as defined by the Environment Agency. This is necessary to preserve the drinking water that has been extracted
The site must pass the deepTrial Site Assessment. There should never be any groundwater (the water table) or rock inside one metre of the soakaway drain pipe. Hole Testand The soil on the site must pass the Percolation Tests and not be excessively sandy or heavy

The site must be free of debris.

As previously stated, the Environment Agency has verified to us that DEEP BOREHOLE SOAKAWAY drilling since a technique of resolving drainfield concerns is NOT usually acceptable to them, nor are SOAKAWAY TUNNELS, CRATES, AND THE LIKE, as these are designed solely for rainfall soakaways. Keep an eye out for these kind of advertisements on the Internet and report them to Trading Standards!

If you pass the above tests, then the size of the soakaway drainage field will be dependant on the following factors,

1. The soil’s porosity is measured. 2. The size of the property (measured in terms of the number of beds) and the number of people who live in the community it serves. Septic tanks are only permitted for small-scale operations with a workforce of up to around 15 people, according to the Environmental Agency. Drainfield soakaways are made with ditches filled with clean washed stone and fed by solid perforated drainage pipe in a contemporary septic tank system drainfield. There are several ditches that are interconnected and have a grid-like pattern, similar to that of an oven grid tray.

Percolation tests were most likely not performed, which resulted in the results being insufficient and undersized in the first place.

You should empty your tank on a regular basis because if you do not, suspended particles from the tank will be driven down your drains and into your soakaway, blocking the pipes and polluting the soil with a black, slimy biomatt, rendering your drainfield ineffective.

When your tank fills to a level that exceeds the level of the exit pipe, especially after a strong rainstorm, this is a sure indicator that something is going wrong. If the water level in the septic tank begins to increase, it is likely that the drainage in the drainfield has been compromised.

Rules and Regulations for Septic and Foul Drainage Soakaway Drainfields

The drainfield should be located at a minimum of the following distances:

Buildings must be 15 metres apart
Boundaries must be 2 metres apart
Water abstraction points (wells, springs, bore holes) must be 50 metres apart

Watercourses (ditches, streams, rivers) must be 10 metres apart. There should be no access roads, driveways, pathways, buildings, or other structures in the drainfield area. If it is in a field, tractors are not permitted to drive over it
Otherwise, it is authorized. Neither water nor electric cables nor pipes should be located within the drainfield area. The bedrock or water table should never be more than 1.2 metres away from the drainfield pipes at any point in time.

For any questions concerning your septic tank soakaway system, please contact us on 01759 369915. We can usually organise a free assessment and diagnostic of the degree of the problem with your soakaway system. Accidental Damage coverage on your building insurance policy may allow us to replace your sewage treatment system (including septic tank and soakaway drainfield) at no cost to you in certain circumstances.

Septic Tank Soakaway

To begin, you will want a copy of the Approved Document H – Drainage and Waste Disposal, which may be obtained by visiting the following link: Drainage and waste disposal are covered in Section H. Follow the procedures outlined in the text for conducting percolation experiments, then do the following:

Percolation test method (in order to size your soakaway system):

Remove 300mm square of soil and excavate it to a depth of 300mm below the intended invert level of the soakaway pipes. Fill the 300mm square hole with water until it reaches at least the 300mm mark and set it overnight to soak away. Fill the container to the 300mm mark again the next day and time how long it takes for the water to soak out in seconds as the container fills from 70 percent to 25 percent capacity. Calculate the time required by multiplying it by 150. The answer will provide you with the average time measured in seconds (V).

It is recommended that drain fields or soakaways be installed only when the results are between 12 and 100.

Design and Construction of your Soakaway:

Drains should be made of perforated pipe and put in trenches with the same gradient as the surrounding terrain, but not steeper than 1:200. Pipes should be set on a 300mm layer of shingle or a medium with a thickness of up to 50mm before being painted. The trenches must be filled to a depth of 50mm above the perforated pipe, covered with a membrane, and then filled with soil to the desired depth. In order to effectively drain water away from the soakaway, ditches should be between 300mm and 900mm broad, with a 2m interval between each trench.

It is recommended that soakaways be installed in a circuit to create a continuous loop.

To calculate the size of the soakaway, use this formula:

P x V x 0.25 = 0.25 times the area Where P is the number of people that have been served V is the value obtained from the percolation test. The computed Area should be translated to a linear trench amount depending on the width of the trench, which should be between 0.3m and 0.9m in width. The results of the percolation test will be used to determine the architecture of the trench network. For example, if the result is 108m2 and the trench is 900mm broad, you will require 120m of trenching material.

That’s all there is to it. a brand new, fully functional septic tank soakaway system! You can contact us on 01296326111 if you are experiencing difficulties estimating the soakaway area. We can walk you through the procedure.

How To Size A Soakaway For A Septic Tank Or Sewage Treatment Plant

Home How to Determine the Proper Size of a Soakaway for a Septic Tank or Sewage Treatment Plant Whenever you are building or replacing a septic tank (or in some cases, a whole sewage treatment plant), you will need to create a soakaway for the waste water to be disposed of properly. A percolation test must be performed in order to establish the size of the drainage soakaway area that is necessary. The percolation test procedure Using a 300mm square hole excavator, dig down to a depth of 300mm below the anticipated invert level of the soakaway pipes.

Fill the container to the 300mm mark again the next day and time how long it takes for the water to soak out in seconds as the container fills from 70 percent to 25 percent capacity.

The answer will provide you with the average time measured in seconds (V).

It is recommended that drain fields or soakaways be installed only when the results are between 12 and 100.

How to Perform the Percolation Test Calculations:

V = The length of time, in seconds, that it takes for the water level in the test hole to drop by one millimeter. P is the maximum number of people that the tank or facility is designed to accommodate. For sewage treatment units, the area (A) is equal to V x P x 0.20. For septic tanks, the area (A) is equal to V x P x 0.25. Architects and engineers worked together to design and build the Soakaway. Construction of a soakaway should be done to a minimum of 30m in length. Drains should be made of perforated pipe and put in trenches with the same gradient as the surrounding terrain, but not steeper than 1:200.

The trenches must be filled to a depth of 50mm above the perforated pipe, covered with a membrane, and then filled with soil to the desired depth.

Soakaway Construction

The development of soakaways is an essential component of many drainage solution systems. The construction of a soakaway is relatively straightforward, but it is how it is integrated into a larger drainage system that is critical to its effectiveness. Soakaways are frequently used in combination with septic tanks for home installations, but they may also be used to remove surface water from a variety of locations as a standalone system. It’s critical to speak with professionals who are familiar with soakaway building in order to properly comprehend how a soakaway will function in your specific situation.

Drainage Solutions – Why Construct A Soakaway?

A soakaway system works in conjunction with other drainage equipment to guarantee that water is safely removed from your property. As part of a wastewater treatment system, the soakaway allows for the discharge of waste water while the tank holds solid waste. When there is no connection to a sewage main available, the tank and soakaway approach is utilized, and it is one of the most cost-effective solutions to drainage problems. However, they may also be used to tackle waterlogged driveways and gardens, as well as other areas of standing water that may pose a hazard to your home or business.

In these situations, a soakaway drainage system or sewer connection guarantees that surface water is not released into the main sewers, and it is frequently a necessary component of driveway design.

Only drainage professionals with vast expertise in the installation of soakaways will be able to guarantee compliance while also producing a soakaway system that is effective for your requirements.

Make sure to ask a lot of questions regarding the entire drainage system, as well as how the soakaway will be integrated into it. Professional companies will not be offended if you ask as many questions as you like.

What Should You Expect When Installing A Soakaway?

The principle of soakaways is straightforward. They are simply a hole in the earth that has been filled with rubble and rough stone to create a monument. It permits surface water to seep back into the ground without posing a threat to the environment. When it comes to constructing a soakaway, there are several factors to consider, since not all types of terrain are suitable for the building of a soakaway. In order to efficiently drain away surplus water, the soil around the hole must be granular and able to drain away excess water.

If this is the composition of the soil surrounding your home, engineers will likely recommend that you use a sewage treatment plant rather than a septic tank and soakaway combo.
Over time, minute quantities of particles will accumulate within the soakaway, causing it to become clogged and unable to adequately release water.
By hiring a professional to install your soakaway, your construction team should be able to avoid such issues by placing the soakaway in the most advantageous location and properly configuring it.
You shouldn’t take any chances; instead, you should place your faith in a reputable organization like Environmental Drain Services Ltd.

Soakaway Construction Provided To You By Environmental Drain Services Ltd

Contact Environmental Drain Services Ltd. for professional soakaway construction that is guaranteed to be done right the first time. We have over 20 years of expertise in the provision of drainage solutions of various kinds, and we are particularly skilled in the development of soakaways in cooperation with sewage treatment plants. We realize how important a well functioning drainage system is to your everyday life, and you can be certain that you are in good hands with our engineers. We see each task as a unique challenge, and we never try to apply a one-size-fits-all strategy to them.

Septic tank and soakaways failures

Fabian Belin published an article on March 30, 2015.

How to avoid septic tank and soakaways failures?

The majority of septic tanks and soak-aways have issues, which mainly involve drain pipes backing up or the septic tank overflowing, resulting in effluent backing up and seeping into ditches, damaging the surrounding environment. When it comes to septic tank difficulties, it is more often than not related to the soak-away system rather than the septic tank itself. Failure of soak-aways can be caused by a wide range of variables, including improper maintenance of the septic tank, soil type and composition (soil quality), elevation of the groundwater table, and the design specifications of the septic system.

Whether you see any of these indicators, you should lift the drain inspection chambers to see if there is any standing effluent in them and clean them. The drain inspection chambers should be free of any material accumulation and free of obstructions.

The most common causes of septic tank and sewage system failure are as follows:

Reason 1: Poor septic Tank Maintenance

The majority of septic tanks are sadly not properly maintained since their owners are sometimes under the mistaken impression that they are saving money. For example, onion-shaped fiberglass septic tanks produce less high-quality effluent than classic brick concrete two-chamber septic tanks, which are more expensive. Septic tanks have a storage capacity of 12 months’ worth of sludge, and as a result, they must be emptied at least once every 12 months. If sludge is washed into the soakaway system, it has a significant impact on the soil’s ability to retain water.

Reason 2: Wrong soakaway Depth after the septic system

In accordance with Section H of the Building Regulations 1.39, ‘Drainage fields shall be built and constructed in such a way that aerobic contact between the liquid effluent and the subsoil is achieved.’ In reality, most modern septic tanks in the shape of an onion have outlet levels set more than a meter below ground level, which results in the use of anaerobic conditions after the septic system, which is undesirable.

Soakaways for septic tanks should be built on soil that has plenty of oxygen.
The ground serves as a medium for dispersing the effluent and is also employed as a component of the system to break up and digest the effluent that will eventually be treated.
Because of this, it is recommended that the soakaway depth not be larger than one meter below ground level, including the 300mm gravel bed that is often present under the pipe, in order to prevent the soakaway from attempting to work in anaerobic conditions.
This bacterium is not harmful to humans.

Reason 3: Soil Type and/or groundwater table

Due to the low porosity of clay and clay-based soils, it is hard to distribute septic system effluent in a satisfactory manner on such non-porous grounds. In low-porosity soils, soakaways are prone to failure during the first five years of their existence. In clay soils and/or soils with fine particles of silt, an excess of sodium (salt derived from detergents such as washing powders or occasionally from cooking vegetables) can cause a reaction known as sodium binding, in which the clay particles adhere to one another, resulting in the formation of a waterproof layer along the soakaway trench.

Because of the high concentration of suspended particles in sand soils, as well as the black slime produced as a result of the anaerobic process, the porosity of sand soils will be diminished.

It is possible that the cleared effluent will mix with the settling chambers of the septic tank as a result of this procedure. The soil’s porosity will be diminished as a result of the solids-laden effluent that results from this process.

Reason 4: Septic Tank construction and septic system capacity

Due to the low porosity of clay and clay-based soils, it is hard to distribute septic system effluent in a satisfactory manner on these non-porous grounds. If grown in low-porosity soils, soakaways are likely to fail during the first 5 years of their existence. In clay soils and/or soils with fine particles of silt, an excess of sodium (salt derived from detergents such as washing powders or occasionally from cooking vegetables) can cause a reaction known as sodium binding, in which the clay particles adhere to one another, resulting in the formation of a waterproof layer alongside the soakaway trench.

Because of the high concentration of suspended particles in sand soils, as well as the black slime produced as a result of the anaerobic process, the permeability of the soil will be significantly reduced.

It is possible that the cleared effluent will mix with the settling chambers of the septic tank during this procedure.

Can I build my own soakaway?

How big should a septic tank soakaway be?

How far should a soakaway be from a septic tank?

How do you dig a soakaway?

How deep do I need to dig a soakaway?

Do all septic tanks have a soakaway?

How do you calculate the size of a soakaway?

Can I use hardcore for a soakaway?

How far must a soakaway be from a house?

Is a septic tank the same as a soakaway?

Do I need building regs for a soakaway?

How long will a soakaway last?

how to make a soakaway for a septic tank

how to build a soakaway for a septic tank

Soak away for sewage effluent

Sizing of a soak away

Minimum soak away site distances

Construction of soak aways and drain fields

Percolation tests for a soak away design

How to carry out a percolation test

Calculating the size of the soak away

Safety advice

Septic Tank Drainage Fields

Are there drainage field regulations?

Is my drainage field legal?

Soakaway crates

Herringbone drainage

Soakaway pits

Can a borehole be used for a septic tank soakaway?

How can DJ Wilkinson help?

Soakaways and Drainage Fields

Soakaways versus Soakaway Drainage Fields

Test 1 – The Environment Agency Test For Soakaway Contamination Issues

Test 2 – The Trial Site Assessment Hole For Groundwater Levels

Test 3 – The Percolation Tests For Soakaway Soil Porosity

Minimum soakaway drainage field distances

Cross section of the drain

Minimum and Maximum depths allowed

Septic Tank Soakaway Drainfields

Over 60% of all sites in the UKFAILthe three mandatory tests required to install a septic tank soakaway. If you can’t have a soakaway drainage field, you can’t have aseptic tankand must consider using asewage treatment plantinstead.

If you pass the above tests, then the size of the soakaway drainage field will be dependant on the following factors,

Rules and Regulations for Septic and Foul Drainage Soakaway Drainfields

Septic Tank Soakaway

Percolation test method (in order to size your soakaway system):

Design and Construction of your Soakaway:

To calculate the size of the soakaway, use this formula:

How To Size A Soakaway For A Septic Tank Or Sewage Treatment Plant

How to Perform the Percolation Test Calculations:

Soakaway Construction

Drainage Solutions – Why Construct A Soakaway?

What Should You Expect When Installing A Soakaway?

Soakaway Construction Provided To You By Environmental Drain Services Ltd

Septic tank and soakaways failures

How to avoid septic tank and soakaways failures?

Reason 1: Poor septic Tank Maintenance

Reason 2: Wrong soakaway Depth after the septic system

Reason 3: Soil Type and/or groundwater table

Reason 4: Septic Tank construction and septic system capacity

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