Cj. Pratt, RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT IN METHODS OF SOAKAWAY DESIGN, Journal of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, 10(1), 1996, pp. 47-51
Soakaways have been a traditional method of disposal of stormwater for
decades, and their usage has mainly been determined by the absence of
a convenient watercourse, drain, or sewer into which to discharge run
off arising from roofs and paved surfaces. Today, soakaways are still
being installed at a rate of tens of thousands per annum, despite the
extensive storm-sewer systems in the UK. It is therefore surprising th
at little systematic research and development has been undertaken into
their design and performance, or into the appropriate forms of mainte
nance to be conducted to extend operational life. The paper briefly de
scribes the recent research into, and design approaches for, the sizin
g of soakaways. An example is given of the use of Building Research Es
tablishment Digest 365 to review alternative soakaway designs and to a
ssess the cost implications. Some field data are reported which (a) il
lustrate the seasonal variability and difficulties of determination of
the soil infiltration rate, and (b) provide some insight into the pol
lution issues from the use of soakaways.