Rear garden Soakaway problems, solutions, diagnosis

Boohoo

@UnsureAboutthis if you can get access to drain you could hire one of these as it's cheaper than getting somebody in but if you need a pro to show your neighbours anything and want proof of the issue then spend the money on them.

https://www.otleyhirecentre.co.uk/product/site-equipment/detectors/drain-camera/

daveyjp

It is highly likely that after 60 years the soakaway is no longer effective. My parents property was purchased by my grandparents in the mid 70s and it had a back garden which flooded due to clay soil and unknown to them an underground stream.

To resolve it the garden was raised a metre and a whole garden drainage system with an outlet into a soakaway about 5m x 5m x 2m deep and filled with rocks was installed. After 50 years the garden once again floods as those rocks are now full of compacted clay. Rather than dig out and replace a submersible pump with a level switch and pipework has been installed which pumps to the property drainage.

It is now a requirement on developments using soakaways for drainage the area for the soakaway needs to be twice as large as the soakaway so a new one can be dug after 30-50 years if the original becomes ineffective.

UnsureAboutthis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82114311#Comment_82114311

Thanks I am away and also the 5 meter rule away from the property our is a mere 2.5/3 meters but the area had never been wetter than the other grass but most answers say life f these is 30 to 60 years max and i guess i am just being proactive.

Not 100% atm, shortlisting potential cowboys (hope not) and get and honest feedback.