Soakaway location

[Philosop1]

Hi,

We are thinking of replacing our Soakaway. There is a Thames water distribution main (clean water network) 7m away from our building. Thames water website says they wouldn’t allow any structure within 3m of their water main network. That would mean we can only have the Soakaway 3m from our building (assuming 1m for Soakaway length).

The existing Soakaway was installed 3.5m from the original house 30 years ago. A 1.5m ground floor extension was done 20 years ago but Soakaway wasn’t relocated. Therefore, currently Soakaway is 2m from the house. We had a surveyor look at the house whilst buying and no subsidence, cracks or damp issues. We lived here for 2 years now.

We have no option but Soakaway. As no other network to tie into. All other houses along our road has Soakaway as well.

My question is - Is it worth contacting building control to discuss the location given that Thames water issue is non-negotiable or should we contact to see if any concessions could be made to meet 5m from the building rule?

 

[blup]

IIRC there are potential exemptions that allow access to sewer where it is not practical to drain into a soakaway. The question would therefore be: is there a need to move it all?

 

[Philosop1]

We need a soakaway at the front of the house. Sewer is at the rear of the house, so we can't use it. It is not feasible to divert roof water to the rear either because of limitations around the house.

The house is at a lower level than the road, therefore we can't connect to anything. Only solution is a soakaway.
The distance I was enquiring about is from the clean water distribution network.

We have some overflow when it rains heavy so we need do some works. I thought we would improve its location given that it will be dug up.

 

[^woody^]

Dimensions for the siting of a soakaway are recommendations not prescriptive.