Soakaway
According to BRE Digest 365 Soakaway design: ‘Soakaways are used to store the immediate surface water run-off from hard surfaced areas, such as roofs or car parks, and allow for efficient infiltration into the adjacent soil. They discharge their stored water sufficiently quickly to provide the necessary capacity to receive run-off from a subsequent storm.’
Traditionally they have been used as a way of disposing of surface water in areas that are remote from public sewers or watercourses, instead allowing rainwater to infiltrate directly into the ground. However, recently they have also been used in fully-sewered areas to limit the impact of new building works and to avoid the cost of upgrading sewers.
They can be square, circular, or trench excavations and can be filled with rubble, or lined with brickwork, plastic cells, perforated pre-cast concrete ring units or similar structures. They can also be deep bored.
NB The SuDS Manual (C753) published by CIRIA in 2015, defines a soakaway as: ‘A subsurface structure into which surface water is conveyed, designed to promote infiltration.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bund.
- Catchment flood management plans.
- Culvert.
- Detention pond.
- Drainage.
- Flood and Water Management Act.
- Flood insurance.
- Flood risk management plan.
- Flood risk.
- Future Water, The Government’s water strategy for England.
- Groundwater control in urban areas.
- Gulley.
- Highway drainage.
- Pitt Review.
- Planning for floods.
- Pumps and dewatering equipment.
- Rainwater.
- Rainwater goods.
- Rainwater downpipe.
- Rainwater harvesting.
- Safe working in drains and sewers.
- Sewer construction.
- SuDS - is there light at the end of the tunnel?
- Sustainable urban drainage systems.
- Swales.
Featured articles and news
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.