soakaway building requirements

[emmy32]

hi, i'm about to sign off the build on my house and noticed that the drainpipe at the back of the house doesn't drain into a soakaway, is it a compulsory requirement that all drains lead to a soakaway???

 

[DevilDamo]

No. If the ground is not suitable (i.e. clay), then you'll find soakaways will not be used to discharge surface water.

Where does it discharge to then... mains sewer?

 

[emmy32]

hi devildamo, it currently seems to just run from the drainpipe to the ground on the edge of the patio, but we're about to redo the patio and don't want to have to dig it up again if the building inspector decides we need a soakaway or something, is it ok to just run from the drainpipe onto the patio??

 

[DevilDamo]

I can't see that going down well with your local BCO, or have they already agreed it?

 

[emmy32]

no he's not agreed it yet, he's due back when the builder can do a drain test for him, he asked if there was a soakaway there as he didn't have time to check , i assumed there was (we had things near the drain at the time so i couldn't see !) it's only storm water from the guttering around the toilet roof but i don't suppose that makes a difference.

 

[DevilDamo]

The drains test has nothing to do with the surface water... you know that? Or were you just referring to that is the time the BCO will be back on site?

Do you know how big the roof area being drained is because as per AD H, you can drain up to 6 sq.m without requiring guttering/downpipes.

 

[emmy32]

i was just meaning that the bco will be back then not that there was a connection. i contacted my builder and it was an error on his part , he thought he had put a soakaway in already so he's coming back to sort it out in the next few days. thanks for your input, it confirmed what i thought and saved a wasted visit from the bco.