Soakaway - how do you tell if you've got one?

[JamesA]

Our drive slopes away from the road and has a small drain grill about 6 foot from the garage door.

Are there any rules you can follow to work out if you've got a soakaway?

The house was built in around 1990 I think.

 

[Chukka63]

most houses built about that time would have a soakaway.tracing it would be a bit more tricky.but if/when you do,plot its position on a piece of paper in relation to your house and send it off to the water board and if no one has done this you use to get a £50.00 credit on your water bill.it was a while back since ive done it so they may have changed it,what with everyone tightening there belts

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

If you can locate a surface water inspection chamber somewhere downstream of this drain then run some water from a hose into the drain and see if it runs into the chamber. Dye test is foolproof way of telling but water test should tell you what you need to know.

 

[Nige F]

most houses built about that time would have a soakaway.tracing it would be a bit more tricky.but if/when you do,plot its position on a piece of paper in relation to your house and send it off to the water board and if no one has done this you use to get a £50.00 credit on your water bill.it was a while back since ive done it so they may have changed it,what with everyone tightening there belts

don`t get a credit from Southern Water , just a standard letter saying that their records say you aint got a soakaway. THEN you ring them up and rip the **** Well, I did cuz I know the area I moved to recently- used to work opposite- and there has never been a surfaced road here , let alone surface water sewer. Guess what . the guy on the computer suddenly comes up with accurate records ON his computer Saves me about £20 a year FOREVER

 

[JamesA]

It's Anglian water. I've applied using their web page.

In theory they could send an inspector out.
I'm assuming they won't as that'll cost them a lot more than just paying me the rebate.

 

[JamesA]

Anglian Water have updated my account, the next day
You can't argue with service like that!

 

[Nige F]

Anglian 1 Southern 0

 

[JamesA]

Of course some would say they've charged me £105 for 3 years of service they haven't provided and it should be backdated.

I don't want to push though it in case they start getting difficult.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

They often havent a clue where half their network runs, I know from 1st hand experience. I would keep stummm now, before they decide your gully goes into a sewer they didnt know about!