Category Archives: Soak-Away

Soak-Away Test Report Gloucester

Leave a Reply

Soak-Away Test Report Gloucester  

We have recently been commissioned to deliver a BRE 365 Soak-Away Test in Gloucester. The proposed development is residential. 

From commissioning to issue of report the turnaround for this project was under 5 days. 

The results were fair and we design the system in line with the planning authorities requirements, which was a 1:100 year rainfall event with a 40% allowance for climate change.  

Southwest Environmental Limited carry out soak-away testing all over the UK. If you need a report for planning, or to aid with design then please get in touch and we can provide a fixed price. 

P.s. The ground conditions on this job were sandy, with a touch of gravel. People often assume that if they see sand and gravel they will get a good result, but if there is an amount of clay in the sand and gravel mix, this can quickly reduce soakaway rates to low levels. 

BRE365 Soak-Away Testing in Gloucester

Leave a Reply

BRE365 Soak-Away Testing in Gloucester

SWEL recently received a phone call from a company in Gloucester who needed a BRE 365 soak-awat report for a planning application. They happened to have a digger and a water supply on site, so we attended site on the same day to take measurements etc. and produce a report (the following day).

We also included some surface water drainage strategy in the report, and made a robust conclusion that will hopefully see that the planning related matters are satisfied.

A Large Excavator

The digger used was really rather karge for the job, we would normally use a 2.5 ton digger. But in this instance we had a 20 ton beast, with a 1.5m wide bucket. Needless to say the holes were quite large.

If you require some soak-away testing undertaking we can help out, maybe not on the same day as we did here but we will do our best.

Foul and Surface Water Drainage

BRE 365 Soak-Away Tests – Gloucestershire

Leave a Reply

BRE 365 Soak-Away Tests – Gloucestershire

SWEL were engaged to undertake BRE 365 soak-away testing at a site in Gloucestershire. The works includes site works and a full written report with design calculations and soak-away sizing calculations according to BRE 365. We include trial pit logs, photographs and extra information we feel may be of use, such as empirical strength estimates.

The site was fairly large and very hilly. Which would have made access rather difficult if it were not for pre-existing access tracks, and a disused railway line which serves as a spine road for our investigations!

There were various fallen trees etc. which had to be removed before we could start work, but our site staff normal carry a selection of cutting tools so as to get things moving as quickly as possible.

Access was Tight ion the Wooded Areas – Note Quarry Face to Rear

In the course of a very long day we managed to complete 7 trail holes, with BRE 365 soak-away testing carried out in each one.

Bedrock was quite shallow at some points across the site. The western extents of the site included a quarry and a disused railway tunnel.

Many of the Soak-Away Pits Reveled Large Limestone Cobbles.

Infiltration rates across the site were variable, reflecting the steep topography and disturbed nature of the ground. The valley bottom showed slower soak-age rates whilst the the infilled quarry showed very rapid soak-age rates, likely due to the use of a very course fill media.

The field work element of each test took between 30 mins and 2 hours, which many of the longer tests being run simultaneously.

Our water bowser was towed by an Instructor from the nearby Whitecliff 4×4 Centre, who was as skilled as he was amicable.