Soakaway Systems
With over two decades of off-mains drainage experience, we pride ourselves on our drainage expertise and services. Our in-house team are specialists in soakaway design and installation for both commercial and domestic properties throughout the U.K. We install some of the more common installations including septic and mound soakaways, drainage fields, hydro brakes and water crates with attenuation tanks.
We also provide a full land drainage service, including both assessments and percolation tests, none of which is outsourced. By completing these tests, we can ensure that the area is totally suitable for the installation of a soakaway for your property. These comply with building regulations and SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems).
Designing Soakaways
Typically used in areas surrounding buildings, paved areas and gardens, soakaways are a traditional method used to dispose of both rainwater and sewage liquid from your property. They store the immediate water, allowing efficient, gradual infiltration into the surrounding soil.
In simple terms, it is a hole dug into the ground, filled with coarse stone, which allows surface water to filtrate back into the earth close to where it had fallen in the first place.
When our team designs a surface water drainage system, we must consider many factors; such as the size, the distance from surrounding buildings, and ultimately whether the ground is suitable for the installation of a soakaway at all. As an example; when developing a design for a domestic or residential property, the number of bedrooms within the home along with the porosity of the soil ultimately determines the size of the drainage field, which can only be determined through a percolation test and nothing else.
A drainage field must also be a certain, safe distance away from all obstructions; ditches, water abstraction points such as surface water and groundwater, boundaries and any other buildings within the surrounding area.
With our expertise in the water drainage industry, we can carry out all the relevant and necessary tests and recommend the most effective and suitable system design for your property. Our team at OMDI provide a full, extensive service, from the initial testing, all the way through to the soakaway design and installation, so you can always rely on us to commit ourselves to the task and deliver great results that you will be happy with.
Percolation Test
What is a percolation test?
A ‘perc test’ is the last of the three mandatory tests to determine if the installation of a replacement soakaway is safe for installation. A percolation test determines the rate in which the soil is permeable. This test is absolutely crucial to ensure you that the area is completely suitable for the installation of a soakaway and to suitably design the correct soakaway for the area.
How does a percolation test work?
When a percolation test takes place, our team digs 300mm into the ground, below the proposed invert level of the distribution pipe. We then fill the hole with water to a depth of at least 300mm and is then left overnight. The following day, the hole is again filled and monitored, to analyse how long specific levels of the water takes to seep away. This procedure is completed a minimum of three times in each of the three trial holes to calculate an overall average time. This is then used to help determine the area size of the soakaway itself.
We then analyse all of the results to see if the area is suitable for installation.
Why choose OMDI?
OMDI is a family-run business committed to providing excellence in the design and installation of a soakaway. Unlike other businesses, rest assured that you will only ever deal with one of our team of experts, as we never outsource our work to contractors.
From the initial consultation to completion of installation, we will work closely with you to understand your exact requirements to ensure that we provide you with the most efficient soakaway possible for your property and usage, saving you money in the long run.
Choose OMDI means you will never need to look anywhere else for help or advice with your drainage. Our comprehensive experience and range of high quality, bespoke drainage solutions allow us to provide a full turnkey solution, from design to maintenance, for both domestic and commercial properties.
Contact us for a free quote
To find out more about our septic tank services, arrange a free, no obligation quote, or discuss your requirements with one of our experts, fill out our contact form or give us a call on 01977 800 418 and we’ll be happy to help.
