Rainwater drainage: what is a soakaway?

Soakaways are a long-established way of dealing with rainfall. They are essentially a pit in the ground into which you run your rainwater drainage. They are also used, less frequently, to dispose of the effluent from septic tanks, where they are more commonly known as leach fields. The overall idea is much the same — it’s a way of disposing of surplus water slowly, by directing it away from the house or hardstanding and letting it seep into the ground. This both mitigates against flooding and stops damage to the house and its foundations.

Solutions for surface water runoff aren’t optional either — it’s covered by Part H of the Building Regulations for new homes.