ᐅ Constructing a Soakaway on Your Property Yourself

Created on: 2 Aug 2017 09:33
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bau.herr
We need to manage the rainwater infiltration ourselves. Should we do it ourselves or accept a quote from our construction company and a civil engineer? Both are around €6500 (approximately $7000). To save some money, I’m considering doing it myself. Recently, a colleague told me that you can build a soakaway system yourself using a water tank (see picture). He simply made holes for connection and infiltration. The galvanized steel frame would protect the tank from deformation. This is much cheaper than ready-made soak pits.

Is it possible to build a soak pit yourself like this? If so, how would you approach it and what do you need?

Thanks in advance

Best regards

Großer IBC-Tank im Stahlrahmen mit rotem Deckel und Auslauf
bau.herr2 Aug 2017 12:09
Just to clarify, I currently assume that the rainwater flows through a pipe into the tank and from there it soaks into the ground. Therefore, my idea was to convert and use a tank instead of installing a ready-made and expensive soakaway chamber.

@Domski
So, simply put, is it enough to have a large hole filled with gravel where the pipe ends for infiltration?
Y
ypg
2 Aug 2017 12:21
Why don’t you just create an infiltration basin on the property? It can even be installed beneath the wooden deck and consists simply of a sufficiently sized basin—the smaller, the deeper—lined with gravel. It can also be planted.
kaho6742 Aug 2017 12:40
Bau.Herr schrieb:

@Domski
So, does it simply mean a large hole filled with gravel where the pipe ends is enough for infiltration?
We did it exactly as Domski described, and yes, for us that is sufficient.
D
Domski
2 Aug 2017 13:03
Bau.Herr schrieb:
Just to clarify. I currently assume that the rainwater flows through a pipe into the tank and from there seeps into the ground. So my idea was to convert and use a tank instead of installing a finished and expensive soakaway crate.

@Domski
Does that simply mean a large hole filled with gravel where the pipe ends for infiltration is enough?

Yes, as long as there are no specific requirements from the building authority for the system. However, one of the two pits on our site is undersized, so in heavy rain it might overflow from the manhole of the upstream cistern. I still need to address that.

You have to ensure that the water is distributed evenly within the pit and that the pipe doesn’t clog. For this, we ran the KG pipe straight through the pit and drilled several holes along its length using a hole saw. An inspection chamber for flushing directly before the soakaway pit is the 100% solution.
ares832 Aug 2017 13:13
I think the total of 6500€ is a bit high. We had the whole infiltration system done for about 150 sqm (1615 sq ft) of roof area for just over 3000€. This also included the connection to the wastewater pipe. Are you actually planning to have tanks for water reuse? Otherwise, a few simple infiltration boxes like we have should be sufficient.
bau.herr2 Aug 2017 14:13
Thanks first of all for your replies.

@ares83
Could you send me the name of the company that did the work for you?