Soakaway Services
UKDP designs, installs and repairs soakaways for septic tanks and sewage treatment plants nationwide. We use site assessments and percolation testing to recommend a correctly sized drainage solution suited to the ground.
Complete Soakaway Services
A wastewater soakaway, often called a drainage field, uses perforated pipework to disperse effluent from a septic tank or sewage treatment plant into the surrounding soil. Its design must suit the ground, property and volume of wastewater.
UKDP provides:
- Percolation testing to establish how quickly the soil absorbs water.
- Site assessment and system design based on property use and ground conditions.
- New soakaway installation with correctly arranged drainage pipework.
- Inspection of existing systems where pooling, odours or slow drainage suggest a fault.
- Repair or replacement recommendations based on the cause and extent of failure.
We consider the site conditions, system capacity and relevant discharge requirements before recommending the next step.
Percolation Testing for a Reliable Soakaway
A soakaway can only work if the surrounding soil absorbs water at a suitable rate. Percolation testing checks this before the drainage field is designed or installed.
Test pits are prepared, filled with water and monitored to measure how quickly the level falls. The results help UKDP establish:
- Whether the ground is suitable for a soakaway.
- How large the drainage field needs to be.
- Whether groundwater or poor drainage could affect performance.
- If another discharge solution should be considered.
Testing should not be carried out during heavy rain, as saturated ground can distort the results. Soil that drains too slowly may cause pooling, whereas excessively fast drainage may not provide sufficient treatment before effluent moves through the ground.
What UKDP’s Soakaway Service Covers
Every recommendation is based on how the system is used, how the ground drains and what the site can safely accommodate.
Ground suitability
Soil drainage, groundwater conditions and percolation test results are considered before a soakaway is specified.
Correct system sizing
The drainage area is calculated using the expected wastewater volume and the ground’s measured drainage rate.
Site-specific design
The layout accounts for the available land, site levels, access, existing drainage and the system being served.
Effective effluent distribution
Pipework is arranged to spread effluent across the drainage field rather than concentrating it in one area.
Existing system assessment
UKDP investigates blockages, damaged pipework, root ingress, saturated ground and other possible causes of poor performance.
Clear remedial advice
Findings are used to explain whether repair is practical or whether replacement or an alternative discharge arrangement is required.
What UKDP Customers Say About Our Services
UKDP have, from my first contact with them, been very helpful, informative and re-assuring even when all hope seemed lost for a favourable outcome. Their in-depth knowledge and sheer determination made our claim possible where I feel sure most companies would have given up!
Thank you all so very much for all your work on my behalf. There is no way it was going to get done without your input. I would recommend you to anyone with similar problems. It's such a relief to have it done. Thanks again.
I would like to thank you regarding the claim you handled for me regarding my Septic Tank. You kept me fully informed of progress with my Insurance Company. The replacement tank was installed last month. I am so relieved that the work is now complete. I would be grateful if you could also pass on my thanks to Kevin. I think he attended three times and he was always very professional and reassuring.
The UKDP Soakaway Process: Step-by-Step
For a new or replacement soakaway, each decision is based on the property, ground conditions and applicable drainage requirements.
Site review
We gather details about the property, existing drainage system, available land, access and the problem that needs resolving.
Ground assessment
The site is inspected and percolation testing is arranged where required to establish how effectively the soil drains.
System design
Test results, wastewater volume and site constraints are used to calculate the drainage area and plan the pipework layout.
Proposal
You receive a clear scope of work and quotation explaining the recommended solution before installation begins.
Installation
The drainage field is excavated and installed to the agreed design, with effluent distributed across the calculated area.
Final checks
The completed system is checked, the site is left orderly and any relevant operating or maintenance information is provided.
Who UKDP Helps
UKDP provides clear technical advice for those responsible for owning, assessing, insuring or selling properties with wastewater soakaways.
Homeowners
Investigation, repair and replacement of the soakaway or drainage field at your home.
Learn moreLandowners
Arrange percolation testing, inspections, new installations or replacement drainage fields for individual properties, rural estates and larger portfolios.
Learn moreInsurers
Obtain factual findings, supporting evidence and a recommended scope of work where soakaway damage may be covered, subject to the policy terms and claim decision.
Learn moreEstate Agents
Give buyers and sellers clearer information about the soakaway’s condition, ground suitability and any repair or replacement work recommended before a transaction progresses.
Learn moreFrom Soakaway Failure to Effective Drainage
A failing soakaway can affect the ground, the treatment system and the drains inside the property. UKDP identifies the cause before recommending repair, replacement or another suitable discharge arrangement.
Signs of a Failing Soakaway
- Boggy or waterlogged ground develops nearby
- Dirty water begins pooling or surfacing
- Sewage odours become noticeable outdoors
- Internal drains become slow or begin backing up
- The septic tank fills unusually quickly
- The existing soakaway is undersized or unsuitable
After Appropriate UKDP Work
- Effluent is dispersed through a suitably designed drainage area
- The failed discharge route is repaired or replaced
- The source of the odour is identified and addressed
- Flow through the off-mains system is restored where the soakaway caused the problem
- The outlet and drainage field can discharge effectively again
- A replacement is designed around wastewater volume, site conditions and percolation results
UKDP's Recent Soakaway & Drainage Field Work
Why Choose UKDP for Soakaway Services
Established in 2009, UKDP combines off-mains drainage experience with specialist testing, coordinated project delivery and nationwide coverage.
Off-mains expertise since 2009
Our team has extensive experience with soakaways, septic tanks, sewage treatment plants and their connected drainage systems.
Specialist percolation testing
UKDP carries out percolation tests to assess ground suitability and help determine the required drainage field size.
Support for different discharge systems
We work with soakaways serving both septic tanks and sewage treatment plants, providing advice suited to the connected system.
A dedicated project manager
Your Project Manager coordinates the people involved, manages progress and keeps you informed throughout the work.
Substantial business cover
UKDP carries £2 million in Professional Indemnity insurance, supporting the technical advice and recommendations we provide.
Nationwide, locally delivered
UKDP engineers and trusted local partners provide soakaway services across the UK, coordinated by our central team.
Insurance Support for Damaged Soakaways
Most soakaway failures result from unsuitable ground conditions, insufficient capacity or gradual deterioration and are not normally covered by buildings insurance.
A claim may be worth exploring where the damage was caused by:
- A third party, such as construction or vehicle activity on nearby land.
- Damage elsewhere in the drainage system, such as a failed septic tank allowing solids to enter the drainage field.
- Another sudden event covered by the individual policy.
UKDP can investigate the cause, document the damage and explain whether an insurance claim is worth pursuing. If a claim is accepted, the insurer may approve a like-for-like replacement or a necessary upgrade, depending on the circumstances.
Related Soakaway Guides
How Do You Fix a Soakaway Problem?
Explore why soakaways fail, which faults may be repairable and when a replacement drainage field may be needed.
Read article
Why Is My Garden Boggy Near the Soakaway?
Discover why wet ground can indicate a struggling soakaway and what should be investigated before the problem worsens.
Read articleSoakaway Services: Frequently Asked Questions
Ask our teamWhat is a soakaway?
For off-mains wastewater, a soakaway is usually a drainage field: perforated pipes laid in underground trenches. Liquid effluent enters the pipework and disperses gradually through the surrounding soil, where further treatment occurs. It must be designed for the property, discharge volume and ground conditions.
Does every off-mains drainage system need a soakaway?
Septic tanks normally discharge liquid effluent into a drainage field. Sewage treatment plants may discharge to a drainage field or, where permitted, to surface water. Cesspits are different: they are sealed holding tanks with no outlet and must be emptied regularly.
What are the signs of a failing soakaway?
Warning signs include wet or unusually lush ground above the drainage field, sewage odours, slow drainage, wastewater returning to the tank or a tank that needs emptying more frequently. These symptoms can have several causes, so the tank, connecting pipework and drainage field should be assessed together.
How can I help prevent soakaway problems?
Have the connected septic tank or treatment plant emptied at the appropriate intervals so solids cannot enter the drainage field. Avoid flushing wipes, sanitary products, fats or oils, and do not drive, build or plant deep-rooted trees over the soakaway pipework.
Can a failed soakaway be repaired?
It depends on the cause. A localised blockage or damaged section of pipework may sometimes be repaired. If the surrounding soil has become clogged or can no longer absorb effluent effectively, a new drainage field may be required in a different suitable location.
What does a percolation test involve?
UKDP ideally excavates three trial pits, with a minimum of two, 300mm below the proposed invert level of the drainage field pipe. The pits are saturated and left overnight. The following day, the drainage rate is measured to establish how quickly the soil absorbs water. The process normally takes two days.
How is the required soakaway size calculated?
The calculation uses the soil’s measured percolation value and the number of people the system is designed to serve, commonly based on the property’s bedroom count. The result determines the drainage area required. Available space, groundwater levels and site restrictions must also be considered before installation.
Is soakaway failure covered by buildings insurance?
Usually not when failure results from unsuitable ground, insufficient capacity or gradual deterioration. Cover may be possible if a third party damaged the soakaway or another insured problem, such as damage to the septic tank, caused it to fail. Eligibility always depends on the cause and policy terms.
Talk to UKDP About Your Soakaway
Tell us what is happening with your soakaway, and we will arrange the right assessment, testing or practical next step.