What Is a Soakaway?

A soakaway is an underground structure designed to disperse surface water (rainwater) into the surrounding ground. They're commonly found in properties without a connection to the public surface water sewer. When working correctly, soakaways are invisible and maintenance-free. When they fail, they can cause persistent flooding, waterlogging, and even structural damage to your property.

What to Look For

• Garden flooding after rain when it didn't before
• Standing water that takes days to drain away
• Waterlogged ground around the soakaway location
• Surface water backing up through gullies or downpipes
• Soakaway was never properly constructed (rubble-filled pits)
• Ground above the soakaway sinking or collapsing

How We Diagnose the Problem

We locate and inspect the soakaway, assess its capacity and condition, and perform percolation testing to determine whether the surrounding ground can still absorb water. In many cases, old brick or rubble soakaways have simply silted up or collapsed.

How We Fix It

Failed soakaways are replaced with modern crate-type systems that provide greater capacity and longevity. We design the replacement based on the property's roof area and local ground conditions, ensuring it meets current building regulations and handles the expected water volume.