Is a soakaway necessary?

anjebe

Hi All,

looking for some advice. We are getting an extension onto the back of the house, ground floor only.

Architect wants to add in a soakaway. Wondering if this is really necessary, as we do not have any weather / water issues.

Is there an alternative, even just a rain barrel?

Thanks for any thought or advice

Gusser09

There is a reason why the Arch is putting it in. See what builder says.

muffler

If you are in urban environment with storm water drainage available then you connect to that. If you're in a rural area then you pipe the rain water to an open drain / stream and if that's not an option then you use a soakaway. Barrels will fill and overflow eventually and are therefor not recommended.

T-Maxx

A soakaway may be a requirement of the planning authority as part of their SUDS strategy. Your architect probably knows this. You could also check in with the council to confirm.

anjebe

Thanks for the responses guys. Will speak with them about it.

They do things very much by the book, which in one way is great, but can't help thinking that sometimes they are overcautious and adding in more than necessary.

C. Eastwood

Anjebe

Chartered Building Surveyors and Engineers and Architects must have Professional Indemnity Insurance.

They are obliged to do everything by the Regulations and various Acts etc

DOCARCH

If applying for planning permission, and in Dublin, pretty much all the local authorities will request the provision of a surface water soakaway (where it is suitable to provide one) or other means of attenuating surface water run off. If you do not make a proposal with your planning application, very often you will get a request for additional information to address same.