1. To work, it must extend below the clay and be at least 1. Soakaways and alternatives. 5 driveway drainage solutions for your front yard. They are also referred to as dry wells, soak wells or soak pits in other countries, but in the UK are known as soakaways. Soak Away Testing. Soil containing a high amount of clay is not a good choice for drainage and you may have to dig deeper to get past the clay layer. Building a soakaway using crates isn’t much different from using stone infill. The porosity is so bad that they often fail within the first 5 years as their air spaces become filled with the high levels of suspended solids, often above. Sit a slab on that. Simple to install, with minimum maintenance required. They depend on soil with sufficient infiltration and absorptive capacity. The septic-tank youeffluent must be absorbed and. If the soakaway has been constructed in non-permeable soils such as sandy clay, silt clay and clay then the effluent from the septic tank cannot filter away through the soakaway then flooding of the septic tank will occur causing it to overflow, causing a health hazard. Conclusion. How do you fix poor drainage in clay soil? Adding plenty of organic matter Soakaways will eventually silt up. 0151 515 1415; hello@spudulica. If using proprietary compost mixtures, follow the instructions on the package carefully. Vermiculite is good for root growth. #15. e. #10. They only hold 12 months sludge storage and if sludge starts to empty into the drainage field soil, it very quickly blocks the air spaces (porosity) in the soil, the effluent cannot soak away, you suffer a. Do not use fine-grained sand as it will just. We sell our products through wholesale. septic tank soakaway clay soil - septic tank soakaway clay soilyour septic tank and soakaway in clay soil?Are you. Be sure the soil is a bit airy, too. The purpose of a soakaway is to discharge and percolate the water back into the soil at a steady rate – preventing downstream flooding. Step 5 – Cover the crates. e. g. When used with other mediums, it increases the retention of nutrients. Or. You may be able to discharge the water into a sewer if no other alternative exists and you have permission from the water company. 3. Step 2. To work, it must extend below the clay and be at least 1. Soil porosity refers to the fraction of the total soil volume that is taken up by the pore space (Nimmo, 2004). Use coconut fiber (fibers extracted from the outer part of coconut) to custom make an orchid mix. Paving reduces or stops rainfall getting into the ground. The second option is to raise the soil level using free-draining topsoil. 50m from water abstraction points, boreholes, springs. The tank to soakaway outlet is generally 300-700mm below ground level, so we suggest carrying out the percolation test at this level in the subsoil. They consist of a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel to facilitate water movement. If you have the space and some soil on the clay you could run an ACO channel anywhere out of the way. DON'T install a soakaway in heavy clay soil, the water cannot drain through. Digging with a sturdy spade is the best way, but using a rotavator works OK too. 2m deep it's still surrounded by clay and after yesterday's heavy rainfall this is what it now looks like:soakaway to be considered. A simple infiltration test will so on give you the damming news; the water simply won’t shift. 62 20 1. 25 Mar 2015. Peat Moss. LeadFarmer said: Soakaways in clay soil just become ponds. Fill with water to depth of 300mm. Digging a trench is one of the most effective ways to prevent waterlogging. 4. Because of the poor porosity, soakaways frequently fail within the first 5 years of operation because the air gaps in the soakaways become clogged with the high amounts of suspended particles in the effluent, which. This option is super popular for crafty hydroponic gardeners on a budget. If you need to do a percolation test then: 1. It was fitted with a condensate soakaway as no drainpipe/drain nearby. Because your soil is clay a traditional rubble filled hole will not be an adequate soakaway. Use a loose, organic-rich soil when building berms to enhance drainage. Practical Ways to Improve Clay Soil for Your Garden. The resulting calculation will give you. This is useful if the soils are clayey and do not drain very well. It may also not be successful if you have a high water table. 24 30 1. 5m away from the house, and at 1 square cubic meter per 15 square meters of roof area the water falls from. #5. Would they dry out between rain/storms. 15m from any building, and sufficiently distant from any other soakaway, including roof water. 4). This option is super popular for crafty hydroponic gardeners on a budget. g. Let Geoinvestigate’s experts quote for your next SuDS soakaway, soakage, percolation, permeability or soil infiltration test. During my internet forays I've come across the option of using rainwater crates instead of simply digging a hole, lining it and filling it with stones to form a soakaway. 1. Beg some plastic milk or beer bottle crates, wire them together to form a cube, wrap it in horticultural ground cover fabric and bury it in a pit, running a rainwater pipe from the middle of the crates to the outlet of the drainage channel. 25 for septic tanks. . In this test, the rate at which soil absorbs a known volume of water is determined using a known volume of water. Due to its nature, vermiculite prevents mould. You should recieve some clips or ties with the crates. Although soakaways are an effective sewage treatment component, they can experience problems. 3 Improve drainage in heavy soil. What's more, pooling water beneath your deck can erode soil, harbor bacteria, and encourage insects such as mosquitoes. Set the plant on a third layer of gravel and turkey grit or sand. The rule of thumb is 1 cubic metre of soakaway for 30 sqm of roof. Pre-settled effluent from a collection and storage/treatment or (semi-) centralized treatment technology is discharged to the underground chamber from which it infiltrates into the surrounding soil. I have a building which sits on top of clay ground so I couldn't soak away the grey water. Log In. 2 options. Step 4 – Hook up to the drainage system. clay lumps and friable particles. Soakaway crates · June 30, 2020 · · June 30, 2020 ·newcastle phill. filled the hole at 1820, and by 2217 it had possibly (possibly) moved 2cm, but I suspect. Soakaways are viable for clay soils but normally need to be be another size up- (greater storage for later attenuation), for instance I know Aquacell quote numbers of. To determine. (Using a tiller too often will actually impair soil drainage by breaking up soil aggregates. It behaves like lignin (decomposed wood cellulose). 2. Area (A) = V X P X 0. The repairs can then be authorised with your insurance company prior to works being completed. If the sediments entering the soakaway are the same size or larger than the pores in the infiltration medium then the sediments do not significantly affect the infiltration rate through the soakaway. A soakaway is basically a deep hole filled with rubble. some clay soils) may not be suitable. 10-20mm gravel at the bottom. 35 80 4. Smart Living Transform Your Home with These Cutting-Edge GadgetsFinally, cover up the surface with at least 100mm of soil or sub base then lay your turf or alternative surface back on top. 0 views, 0 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Soakaway Worms: septic tank soakaway clay soilDig a hole into the soil approximately 60cm (2 feet) deep; Fill the hole with water and leave it for four hours; If the water is still there after four hours, then it’s a good sign that you need drainage. How build a soakaway using soakaway crates. If compacting is inevitable, the next best thing is to amend the soil with compost, gypsum, wood chunks, and mulch. Materials that compost quickly include well-rotted manure, leaf mold, and green plants. Log In. This closes the pores and fissures at the excavation interface leading to. K-Rod; 2 Sep 2013; In the Garden; Replies 2 Views 1K. 9. Next, a long channel drain is placed in the trench. Dig the organic matter into the top 10 inches of the clay soil, working backwards trying not to compact the dug soil. If the garden is already waterloggedNormal soakaway drainfields will not be able to soak wastewater away into clay or clay-based soils because of their porous nature. 28 Mar 2008. soils with high clay content slow water infiltration and air penetration. Reason 3: Soil Type and/or groundwater table. #1 I'm looking at re laying my driveway, which is currently constructed of non porous materials and which runs into local drainage. Whereas if the soil is very sandy with a high infiltration rate, you can install a small soakaway. Procedure. Fill the hole with water and come back and check it the next morning. Fill with water to depth of 300mm. Digging in a 1m3 soakaway using a soakaway crate near the centre back of the garden (at least 5m away from the house and 2. The insides of the excavation can become smeared, particularly by mechanical diggers building a soakaway in clay soils. DON'T install a soakaway within 5 meters of your home or a road, it must be installed over 5 meters away. The Plant Company often uses a mini-excavator to complete this task as the bigger the hole, the. Therefore it is a concentrated point source of water in the ground and the height of these types of soakaways means that water also flows out sideways. If your clay soil could use a boost of organic material, use. Kaolinite clay soil, with a chemical formula of Al2Si2O5 (OH)4, has a low shrink-swell ability and is. Clay and rocky soils aren’t their cup of tea (ha). Plan patios, paths and decks. DO choose a soakaway which has the correct loading in relation to where it will be installed; either gardens (normally 20 tonnes) or driveways (usually 40 tonnes). Sodicity degrades soil properties. Keep drains clear. Leave alone approx 12 hrs. Aug 6, 2014. When designing a leach field for clay soils, it’s important to take several factors into consideration, including the soil’s texture, structure, and drainage capabilities. The following images show failed soakaway tests the 1st in a heavy clay soil and the 2nd in low lying ground next to a river with the water table lying more or less at surface. Generally a soakaway built on non clay soil to take and disperse water from a gravel French drain system draining a 120 m2. A minimum soil infiltration rate of 0. Before checking the soil or inspecting the land you must check local planning regulations, especially if you’re including the soakaway as part of an addition or extension to your. Pre fabricated soakaway and trench baskets. Depth in ground. Dig a series of parallel trenches every 3-6m across the garden, sloping towards the ditch or soakaway. I started to dig a soakaway pit, only to find four different colours of clay. 2: Amend Your Clay Soil with Organic Matter. Detailed design guidance is given in BRE Digest 365 or CIRIA Report C753. Area (A) = V x P x 0. Water in camps of Displaced people 1994. The size of the soak away will need to be worked out in advance. started a discharge from a septic tank or small sewage treatment plant. The ideal garden drainage solution depends on. Again though, not sure if these would likely just fill with water like a pond and leave puddles in the garden and how effect the water would feed into them. Has anyone any plans for a soak-away. P = the maximum number of persons that the treatment system/tank is designed to serve. #1. . Use a loose, organic-rich soil when building berms to enhance drainage. If you end up building a soakaway over or in heavy clay or clay soils, you’ll actually end up with a pond due to the non-porous properties of heavy clay and clay soils. If the water table is too high, then a soakaway simply won’t work there. Soakaway cross section. Swale. It takes approximately 5. 4m deep (hit rock) As you can see from the pictures, it looks like clay and certainly acts like clay. you are now not allowed to run storm water in to fowel drains. Planting a low-growing variety of thyme can be an excellent alternative to grass. This. Country. Ello, I've been trying to sort out the rainwater drainage at the back of our house. Fill around the sides and top of crate soakaways with a good, compact layer of sand or gravel, before backfilling with soil. The waste water from the biodigester is us. Beauty Advent calendars for 2023 incl M&S £348 for £45 (+£35 spend), £200+ of No7 for £43, £100 of Ciaté for £19. ”. As part of my building extension planning proposal I intended to create a soakaway to accomodate the extra surface water. 5m away from the house, and at 1 square cubic meter per 15 square meters of roof area the water falls from. If you have noticed that water tends to puddle on the ground rather than soak in, it is likely your soil is clay. A deep bore soakaway is a special type of rainwater soakaway consisting of a conventional chamber and a narrow bore perforated liner extending to the infiltration medium. The down pipe (cast iron) appears to be blocked and the water is filling back up the down pipe and gushing out at the lowest joint which is about 4ft from the floor and subsequently soaking the walls of. If you are hoping to create a soakaway to alleviate waterlogging in a garden, you may well be disappointed by what follows. When water hits the channel drain, it's sent off in another direction, well. Answered By: Cameron Gray Date:. Safe-T-Sorb (STS) from Tractor Supply. If you can't connect into the flood water system and the garden soil is mostly clay, another option to disperse water is to install a pump and sump system. It also decreases compaction, providing better drainage that can reduce the risks of water logging. Step 6 – Replace any ground that was removed. The soil is clay, I have dug a large hole 1mtr deep roughly and its still clay. It doesn’t get compacted, which can suffocate new seedlings or cause root veggies to become stunted because they can’t push through dense clay soil types. How to Make a Rainwater Soakaway. Chapter 3 1994 8. Thangavel Ramesh,. and copyrighted in 1996, to compensate for clay and impervious soils and high water table ground that cannot utilise a. 1. This is due to the voids within the soil becoming blocked by fines and sediment. Work the compost into the soil down to the top six inches to one foot by hand with a garden fork or a spade, or you can use a tiller. The soil in which the soak away is. (Prior to the extension the rain water on our old conservatory was going straight into the public sewer. A soakaway system enables you to collect water and then slowly disperse it into nearby soil without creating excessive runoff and overwhelming the underground drainage systems, which is particularly important in areas with higher than average rainfall, hard ground or steep sloping ground. Thick, coarse sand will improve drainage in clay soils and aid aeration by breaking down the clay soil’s bond with water. What are your options if you have a septic tank in clay soil? Unless you have another area within your property's boundary which does not have clay soil, then a soakaway system or drainage field is unlikely to work. allow the garden. Soakaway crates take run-off water and allow it to slowly percolate. While alternative drainage options exist, none are as efficient or cost-effective as a well-designed and. The deeper the soakaway is the better its infiltration performance and storage capacity. 3: Using Worms and Castings to Improve Clay Soil. A traditional soakaway will have a ratio at the higher end of scale where it drains a road or several houses. Start by digging a pit approximately 1. This material holds water very well and is easy to find at any local garden store. There are not many options to clean or clear a blocked soakaway if you are planning on carrying out the work yourself. Rainwater soakaways are usually made from gravel or stone or even plastic soakaway crates. Turface. 6 Porosity. - Dispose of wastewater in a soakaway pit, an evapotranspiration area or an irrigated garden (see relevent technical briefs). 49 50 3. Other clay soils will achieve a low infiltration rate which makes a rainwater. It consists of a hole dug into the ground and filled with rubble or coarse stone with a drainage pipe or French drain running into it. These are used to hook up the crates to prevent movement while the side-filling materials are added. Break up the earth at the base of the pit with a garden fork. But must clay soils are quite deep. The type of sediments likely to enter the soakaway depends on the. There's a slightly smaller soakaway out the back which we have joined into for the rear, all rear rainfall also goes via a 1250l water butt. To increase the drainage in extremely waterlogged gardens, dig a trench wide enough for a drainage pipe running from the area that needs draining towards the soakaway. Country. And there you have it, a fully installed soak away to take care of your garden drainage issues. First of all, dig a hole of around 6-8 inches diameter on the ground where the water collects. 15 Sep 2021. Digging it in and mixing it with a shovel is a great way to do this, as it moves a lot of earth without pulverizing the soil particles the way tilling can. Underlying soils – This has a limited impact on man-made surfaces such as pavements, but has a very large effect on natural or agricultural surfaces. Full Drainage Design Suite. For a single soak pit, dig a hole that is at least 700 mm deep and 1 m wide. Clay is extremely dense and there aren’t large enough gaps between the particles in the soil to allow liquid to pass through. Reapply any turf that you dug up before and the work will be complete. Soakaways in impermeable soils are unlikely to function because they just fill up with water, so an alternative method of disposal is required. The slope of the apron (1%) should fall to a drainage channel leading to a soakaway pit, an irrigated garden or a cattle drinking trough (see corresponding briefs). We've rounded up the top driveway drainage solutions for you to recreate in your landscaping scheme. Alternately, gardeners can build berms in the landscape to lift plants out of poor-draining clay. These fibers are an excellent material since they help orchids grow strong roots that can hold the plant together. You cannot build a soakaway within the constraints of the regulations (i. And it has cement powder. If a soakaway isn't viable due to ground conditions then surface water drain is the next consideration. We share our downpipe with our neighbours so we are taking a lot of the rainfall. That said & having read the main site & some of the forum posts, I have some questions about soakaway alternatives for our garden. When is a soakaway possible? A soakaway is possible when: The ground infiltration rate is greater than 1×10-6m/s. It will need to settle for a while of course before you. Tin Soldier; 13 Feb 2017; Building; 2. This is a more complex project, and. 60 Minute Storm Duration Clay Sub-Soil Area To Be Drained (m 2) Size of Soakaway Below Invert (m3) 10 0. Working with a qualified septic system designer or installer (+1 877-851-7125) can help ensure that. Allow the top of the soil in the pot to protrude 1 inch above the soil line. 4) Dig up the entire garden and mix the soil. Their construction involves digging a large hole in the ground and stacking soakaway or attenuation crates within it. The Soak Pit which is also called the soakaway or soakage pit is a closed rectangular or. Ground where water soaks away too quickly (e. Put simply, a soakaway is a pit that is dug into the ground to collect excess rainwater. Alternately, gardeners can build berms in the landscape to lift plants out of poor-draining clay. The pipes or chambers are laid in trenches or gravel beds and covered with soil, ensuring proper drainage and permeability. The fitter assured us that it was all done correctly and that it has been fitted into a soakaway. Where the new driveway is small, if the existing garden is not water logged it should be acceptable to allow the water to soak into the ground. Step 1. This is useful where a soakaway pit or infiltration trench cannot be used because of impermeable soils (e. Consequently,can you have a soakaway in clay soil? The excavation for the soakaway is usually done by mechanical diggers. Includes 3 side panels and 1 cover. The guttering had been disconnected. land drain and soakaway details sd 8-2-307 march 2020 11 1:20 on a1 9 drawing title: drawing number:. Installing a soakaway involves careful planning and adherence to local regulations. Like a trench drain, a swale is a surface water drainage device. Watch the capillary action of soil type and how long or fast it takes for a French Drain to work. The soakaway should be encased by 100mm of free draining gravel on all sides. In a clay soil it’s going to take a long time for any soakaway or finger drains to empty so you need to size them accordingly. you can go as close as is practical to the hedge. Some soils, such as heavy clay soils, will not work with this kind of drainage. Is there an alternative to a soakaway? If a soakaway is impossible to achieve, you may be able to discharge the water into a local watercourse if you live next to one. Choose driveway surfaces that allow water to flow. put soil, sand or similar material on the driveway that will block the surface and stop water soaking in. Consequently,can you have a soakaway in clay soil?The excavation for the soakaway is usually done by mechanical diggers. To avoid water collecting in the soak away leaking into and damaging the foundations, The soakaway should be situated at least 5m away from any building. However, the consolidation of the soils is time dependent, delaying construction projects making it a non-feasible alternative. A soakaway is a common drainage solution for many properties in the UK. How do you fix poor drainage in clay soil? Adding plenty of organic matterSoakaways will eventually silt up. Cheaper but less effective methods include soakaway areas, soil aeration and changing the soil composition. A soak pit, also known as a soakaway or leach pit, is a covered, porous-walled chamber that allows water to slowly soak into the ground. Once the back, side and top is covered with 150mm of pea shingle, then you can add the top soil – usually a minimum of 400mm. DON’T install a soakaway if you live in a polluted area prone to smog. Put 2cm of soil in a large jar filled with water, screw on the lid and shake. Maintaining the correct soil pH is highly important for crops. #2. T. Creeping thyme grows only a few inches tall and is hardwearing, making it a great option for high-traffic areas. 06 (i. This can cause wastewater to flood the surface of your property. Spread the soil conditioner across the surface and use a garden fork to mix it in. When it comes to the hardcore infill, it should totally surround the pipe and rise to around 100mm above it. 8m deep. Hi! Been reading PavingExpert for about 1 year now & have been quite impressed with the amount of knowledge / info on the site. Bore a hole 150mm in diameter with an auger, to a depth of one metre. ComponentsSimilarly,how do you make a soakaway in clay soil uk? A soakaway is basically a deep hole filled with rubble. Rainwater harvesting systems will usually have an overflow to a soakaway or drain. In this guide, we will look at what a soakaway is and how it relates to a septic tank. With nowhere for the water to go to it just fills up and sits there. These types of soakaway are useful where a very good infiltration medium underlies a deep layer of poor infiltration material, such as gravels underlying a deep. Replies 20 Views 40K. Usually comes as a kit and The hole can be anywhere from 600mm to 1 metre deep and about 200mm in diameter. Required storage volume in the soakaway, SSoil organic carbon dynamics: Impact of land use changes and management practices: A review. if your ground is relatively free draining then building control will insist upon a soakaway if practical. If you are hoping to create a soakaway to alleviate waterlogging in a garden, you may well be disappointed by what follows. The hole should be at least 4 feet. 5: Other Soil Amendments: Use With Caution. It is pointless sinking a soakaway in clay unless there is a more porous layer underneath. It is lightweight and easy to work with, and it has a high water-holding capacity. 3. A soakaway may well be pointless in heavy clay and therefore your only other option would be to run the water off the surface and round a corner to a bed or lawn etc, depending on the surface area being drained this may not be suitable but for a small drive it would probably be ok. tomfe. In addition to water dispersal, a soak pit mustSee more of Soakaway Worms on Facebook. Some clay soils will achieve virtually zero infiltration and in these soils a soakaway will not be practical. This is a low fired clay product used to clean up spills. ) Organic materials like compost are recommended for amending clay soils. #2. in the soakaway. Determining the optimum size for a soakaway can be a complex iterative calculation including many factors such as location, soil types, size and shape, maintenance etc. The size of the soakaway should be a minimum of 1m x 1m x 1m below the bottom of the incoming pipe. If that isn't possible, you can discharge the rainwater into a sewer, although you will need to get permission from the water company first and they will charge you a yearly fee. My property was constructed in around 1969 and the roof guttering runs along the fascias of the property and then flows into a vertical downpipe. 2. (3–6 oz per square yard). While amending the soil is a surefire way of getting. 10,580 posts. With nowhere for the water to go to it just fills up and sits there. Rainwater harvesting systems will usually have an overflow to a soakaway or drain. The size of the soakaway should be a minimum of 1m x 1m x 1m below the bottom of the incoming pipe. Without proper garden drainage solutions, timber decking can be prone to rot, the likelihood of mold is increased, and the shape and finish of the structure can become distorted. The percolation test calculations for soakaway installation are as follows: Area (A) = V x P x 0. If you hit a layer of clay before reaching the required depth, simply make the soak away longer to make up for the lack of depth. Accommodates between 4 to 25 people. Alternately, gardeners can build berms in the landscape to lift plants out of poor-draining clay. In many cases, it will even work its way back to the surface over time, making your water-logging problems even worse. Case History As part of a preliminary investigation for a barn redevelopment Geoinvestigate were asked to assess whether the site would be suitable for a SuDS. It’s important to note that this method of drainage is not suitable in clay soils as these do not allow water to pass through them. Soil that consists of over 50 percent clay particles is referred to as “heavy clay. It’s most commonly used as an alternative to perlite for its. The liquid is passed through a soakaway system and is discharged into a drainage field. A deep bore soakaway is a special type of rainwater soakaway consisting of a conventional chamber and a narrow bore perforated liner extending to the infiltration medium. The insides of the excavation can become smeared, particularly by mechanical diggers building a soakaway in clay soils. When I had an extension on my house, the rainwater had to be. Based on some typical infiltration. The drains work fine for deep drainage, but the drainage pipes are not taking away the surface water (above the clay). Water in camps of Displaced people 1994. g. Log In. Soak pits are appropriate for rural and semi-urban settlements. Note that land drainage is NOT the same as a soakaway, although they may both be used to dispose of surface and/or ground water. This is best done using shingle or sand, which needs at least 6 inches to be placed around the sides as well as on the top of your crates, before (for gardens) at least another six inches of any soil which was removed to make space for the crates is added back on top and. 5m away from the garden wall). This is the saturation line or upper level of groundwater within the soil or bedrock, which can rise during rainy seasons and fall during dry spells. They put plastic based fences all the way round and laid turf. Installing a soakaway provides a means by which rainwater from a building can be collected and dispersed into the soil in a suitable location. The first thing to consider when choosing a suitable site for a soakaway is the water table. 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. Underdrains can increase drainage over clay soils. If it is practical dig off the top soil, double dig incorporating the grit (I would avoid sand totally) and long manure. While we recommend your groundworker conducts a soil percolation test and creates a set of calculations, there is an alternative method that will give you a rough idea of the soakaway size you’ll need: If your soil type is not too heavy/clay, you can assume that one crate (1000mm L x 500mm W x 400mm H) will be sufficient for ten sq. The least suitable soil types for a drainage field soakaway are: Clay soils (including soil with high clay content) Silty soils; If the percolation test results determine that the soil is in the "Goldilocks zone" of drainage - not to slow to drain discharge but not too quick to not treat it - the results will help with calculating the size of. The purpose is to slow and control the flow of water to prevent flooding. Soakaway Size. Regrading the garden slightly to have the water run down to one side. If the septic tank isn’t emptied regularly enough. When used with other mediums, it increases the retention of nutrients. generally on a house extension, the gullies are joined by 110mm pipe below the ground and then 1 pipe goes to a soakaway. This is particularly the case where space is lacking and the soakaway size must be minimised. I dug a channel out and have begun to dig a soakaway in the corner of the garden and am down about 1 metre so far, just gone past blue clay. To work, it must extend below the clay and be at least 1. Connect to a Soak away, Sump, or Surface water drain. Soakaways are used to manage surface water at its source, and serve as an alternative option to draining off surface water via a stream or sewer system. This is a more complex project, and the extra costs reflect the difficulty in lifting sections of a driveway and the deeper hole. Then refill the hole with clean aggregate (40mm or larger), allowing for at least 300mm of top soil. This is particularly the case where space is lacking and the soakaway size must be minimised. 4. Use berms – mounds of soil – to hold back the water or divert it elsewhere. Has anyone used the. The above Infiltration Rate of Soils values will be suitable for an initial or feasibility design, but detailed design must always take place based on site testing. The Infiltration Rate of Soils also tends to decrease over time.