Soakaway problems can leave wet ground around a property and cause sewage to back up soon after the tank has been emptied. We investigate the tank outlet, connecting pipe and drainage field to establish where the difficulty lies. The timing of the symptoms, including any link with rainfall, helps direct those checks.
Soakaway Problems
Investigation of septic drainage fields, outlet pipework and wet ground when high levels or backing-up return after emptying.
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Effluent treatment in soil
A septic drainage field receives effluent and has a different function from a rainwater soakaway.
Pipework and ground conditions
Rapid return of high levels after pumping can indicate a downstream problem that emptying will not repair.
How a septic drainage field works
Perforated pipes distribute settled effluent through trenches, allowing the surrounding ground to provide further treatment. Solids escaping from the tank can impair this process. High groundwater can also reduce the field’s ability to accept wastewater. A rainwater soakaway serves a different purpose and must not be treated as an interchangeable sewage disposal system.
Drainage field investigation
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Locating the cause of poor drainage
A restricted pipe between the tank and field may be suitable for clearance. Persistent saturation beyond that pipe needs a closer assessment of the field and ground conditions. Wet ground can also come from a water leak or seasonal groundwater, so we check the drainage route before attributing it to sewage.
Repair and replacement decisions
The findings determine whether pipe repair, further investigation or changes to the discharge system should be considered. Emptying may relieve a high tank temporarily while this is arranged. Any proposed alteration needs checking against the relevant national requirements and the property’s conditions. Groundwater and soil characteristics matter when deciding what can be installed.
Soakaway Problems: common questions
Will pumping the tank repair the drainage field?
Pumping can provide temporary relief from high levels. A field affected by poor ground drainage or a defect needs investigation and appropriate remedial work.
Can a rainwater soakaway receive septic effluent?
Rainwater soakaways and sewage drainage fields have different purposes. The installed sewage discharge arrangement must satisfy the applicable rules.
When can jetting help?
Jetting may clear a suitable obstruction in the connecting pipe. The condition of the field and surrounding ground needs assessing if the pipe is clear but levels stay high.
Can wet ground have a cause other than the drainage field?
Yes. A water leak or seasonal groundwater can also leave ground wet, so the drainage route should be checked before the cause is assigned.
Does soil type affect the proposed solution?
Yes. Soil drainage and groundwater conditions are part of assessing a suitable effluent discharge system.