Property build in 1969 - Soakaway installation

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Dear All,

I am trying to resolve an issue with an existing soakway in the front garden at my residential property in the UK.

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.

The downpipe runs vertically from the fascia for around 5m where it meets the ground and then continues another 450mm below the ground. At 450mm below the ground there then appears to be either a 90 degree elbow allowing a horizontal run to the soakaway or a trap allowing a horizontal run to the soakaway.

I would appreciate thoughts on which is the most likely installation considering the year of construction.

Many thanks





Paul
 
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Dear All,

I am trying to resolve an issue with an existing soakway in the front garden at my residential property in the UK.

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.

The downpipe runs vertically from the fascia for around 5m where it meets the ground and then continues another 450mm below the ground. At 450mm below the ground there then appears to be either a 90 degree elbow allowing a horizontal run to the soakaway or a trap allowing a horizontal run to the soakaway.

I would appreciate thoughts on which is the most likely installation considering the year of construction.

Many thanks

Paul

A hole filled with rubble is most likely -if its in the lawn, you might see a puddle in torrential rain

Its probably silted up -my one at the front backs up in heavy rain
 
I believe it is a hole filled with rubble, I would appreciate your thoughts on my initial opening post please
 
I believe it is a hole filled with rubble, I would appreciate your thoughts on my initial opening post please
Are you asking specifically whether it has a 90 or a silt trap below the gulley?
 
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Ok, the downpipe passes vertically from the gutter and then enters the soil at ground level (obvious really I suppose!) where it continues to travel vertically into the ground for 450mm ie. the downpipe is one long pipe from the fascia to 450mm below ground. I am trying to find out whether 450mm below ground there is likely to be an elbow fitted to the downpipe which then allows the horizontal run to the soakaway or whether 450mm below ground there is a trap fitted to the downpipe which then allows the horizontal run to the soakaway
 
I am trying to ascertain if there is an elbow or trap at the bottom of the vertical downpipe.
 
I am trying to ascertain if there is an elbow or trap at the bottom of the vertical downpipe.
Then you need to get the shovel out.

A soakaway would not notmlly be trapped, but what Pat or Mick did when laying the drains in '69 is anyone's guess.
 
Woody, Many thanks. I believe I have not accurately described what I am trying to ask.

I cannot get out a shovel as the area is covered in tarmac but if I understand you correctly it is unlikely to be trapped. The houses were a bit thrown up so it is most likely that Pat and Mick done the least work possible so I believe an elbow
 
Just out interest people, does the soil composition in the attached photo look like the type of soil that would promote draining through it or prevent draining through it?
 

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People,

Today I started prodding my garden with a steel pole to try to identifiy any underground pipework. I identified what I believed to be pipework (which ran from the gutter downpipe to the position of the soakaway shown on my house plans) got a spade out and dug down into the grass. At around 16 inches under the grass I found a pipe that I have shown in the attached photo. It was difficult to measure but it seemed to be around 120mm in diameter and was made of a material which was not plastic but sort of beige in colour. Importantly, its gradient fell when travelling from the gutter downpipe to the area where I believe the soakaway to be.

When I alllowed water to flow down the gutter downpipe (which goes into the soakaway) I could not hear water passing through the underground pipe but when the downpipe started to fill up or back up with water the earth surrounding the underground pipe gradually started to seep out water.

I would appreciate thoughts on whether this appears to be a soakaway pipe. There is nothing on site to suggest it isn't. The gas and electric services are not thought to be in this area, nor is the cold water feed
 

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People,

I would like help with my last message above please if possible.
 
People,

I would like help with my last message above please if possible.
Its a clay 110mm pipe which was used for rainwater and foul pipe runs.

You could try a percolation test to see if your soil is porous.

If the water is backing up its likely the pipe and or the soakaway is silted up.
 
Please be patient, we all advise on here free of charge and in our spare time, work and family commitments take priority, so do not panic if your post isn't answered with immediate effect!

That looks very much like the clay 'Hepsleve' pipe of that era, so I would hazard a guess you have found the rainwater drain. Plastic underground drainage was still in it's infancy I think in the 60's, clayware would have been more commonly used. Given this pipe was/is for rainwater drainage, there would have been no requirement for it to be trapped at the bottom of the downpipe, most likely the downpipe goes into a 4" clayware bend, before continuing across your garden to the soakaway.

To determine if the ground is suitable for a soakaway, carry out a percolation test as described. https://www.wte-ltd.co.uk/percolation_test.html
 
thank you so much friends for your help and assistance and please accept my apologies for being overly impatient. Many thanks indeed
 

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