Soakaway problems

PFMarconi

We live in NW England and get our fair share of rain.
Our property is 200 years old and was built on bankng above our field, which also happens to be a flood plain.
Our soakaway runs down to the field and a farming neighbours over grown ditch which in turn continues for some 200 metres to a much larger - and overgrown ditch.

With a high water table, winter flooding can cause problems with smells and discoloured water in the garden but in the past that's been a seasonal thing !
However, this year that's continued throughout and I'm beginning to wonder what I can do to change things - surely August and September should be a time to smell roses and nothing else.

Two years ago I had the Environmental Agency and my MP take a look at the problem, but it was a case of "no money in the pot", and because it's not affecting him, the farmer won't put time and money into the problem - even though I've offered.

Any ideas ??

Thanks

Cardew

Are you talking about a 'soakaway' or a septic tank and drainage?

A 'soakaway' is basically a pit filled with rubble where rainwater from gutters etc is routed; no waste water from toilets etc enters a soakaway.

If you are not on mains sewerage your drainage from toilets etc goes to a septic tank. The sediment goes to the bottom of the tank and has to be emptied periodically.