A soakaway is an underground reservoir that collects excess rainwater and allows it to seep into the ground. The soakaway can be constructed with plastic casings, leca blocks, or stone chippings of suitable size.

The concept is that the water first passes through a sand trap, which removes leaves and sand. The water then flows into the soakaway, where the cavities are filled with water that gradually seeps into the surrounding soil layer. If you plan to expand your house, summer house, carport, or garage, a soakaway is an ideal solution for managing rainwater from your roof.

In this category, you will find not only soakaways but also inspection accesses, adapters, base plates, side plates, connection plates, and much more. Also take a look at our complete selection of contractor materials here.

How deep should the soakaway be buried?
As a general rule, you should ensure that you dig at least one meter down, but it is not always that simple. You may encounter complications such as soil conditions or groundwater, which may make it necessary to dig even deeper. Drainage standards stipulate that the supply pipe to the soakaway should be at least 75 centimeters below the ground to be protected from frost.

It is important to ensure that there is a slope on the supply pipe all the way down to the soakaway, about 1-2 cm per meter of pipe. The depth at which you should place the soakaway blocks varies depending on how you connect the supply pipe. If you connect the supply pipe from above, you should account for the height of the blocks plus the 75 cm. If it is not possible to dig that deep, you can also choose to connect the supply pipe to the bottom of the soakaway, but this requires you to ensure ventilation for the soakaway.

Advantages and limitations of a soakaway

• Advantages: A soakaway is a simple and relatively economical solution for managing rainwater. This is particularly beneficial in locations where it is complicated and therefore costly to connect rainwater to the existing sewer system. A soakaway alleviates pressure on the sewer system and treatment plant.

Additionally, a soakaway is environmentally conscious, as it contributes to a cleaner groundwater supply by directing excess amounts of rainwater into the groundwater. A single soakaway in a private garden may not have a significant impact on its own, but if all houses in a neighborhood install soakaways, it will make a difference for the groundwater.

• Limitations: A soakaway requires regular attention and maintenance. It is somewhat of a misunderstanding that soakaways are not effective enough. But the truth is that a soakaway, when properly installed and maintained, will usually do the job of draining your rainwater without issues.

Make sure to know the legislation before you start
There are certain essential regulations you must adhere to if you decide to construct a soakaway. You are obliged to ensure that the work with a soakaway is carried out in accordance with the relevant rules in the Building Regulations.

First, you need to obtain an approval from the municipality to direct roof water into the ground. Mark on a site plan where the soakaway is located on the property. There must be at least two meters from the soakaway to both your customer’s house and to the boundary with the neighbor – if there is a basement, there must be at least five meters between the dwelling and the soakaway.

You must be able to prove that it does not cause inconvenience to neighbors or others. It is also crucial that the soakaway is placed in a location where the terrain slopes away from buildings, and it must be placed relatively close to a rainwater well, where it is to be connected.

To the municipality, you must be able to document that the soakaway has the necessary size to handle the amount of rainwater being directed to it. Note that only rainwater is directed to the soakaway – not wastewater. Therefore, you need to explain to the municipality where the water for the soakaway comes from.

Ahlsell is your dealer of soakaways
We have a wide selection within soakaways, geotextiles, environmental nets, and foundation slabs. Find what you need for the project in Ahlsell's webshop - 24/7. Timely delivery is a given, and when you shop at Ahlsell, you can have your goods delivered in several different ways. You can see which delivery option best suits your wishes here.

We have several years of experience with products from various leading manufacturers. If you need guidance, you will experience professional expertise and good service if you call our sales department or seek advice in one of our many stores across the country.

You can choose to have your orders delivered to the company, construction site, or any other location. You can also simply reserve the products in your nearest Ahlsell store. After a short time, all your products will be ready for pickup.