Yard drainage / soakaway

[edessex]

The entrance to my yard is the lowest point, which then crosses a ditch at the roadside. The whole yard has a gentle slope to the entrance.

I've always allowed surface water to run down the entrance to the ditch. But I've now starting improving the ground, so I drag less mud onto the road. I've now accidentally created a 'soft spot' that holds water just inside the entrance gate.

My plan is to dig this area out, create a sump/soakaway with hardcore, and run a pipe to the ditch.

Looking online, all soakaways seem to use plastic crates now, but this is going to be UNDER my roadway, and I don't like the sound of driving over the crates!

Soil type is clay.

What's my best option?

Thanks in advance!

 

[br jones]

Different types of crates ,different strengths,,me personally ,big hole ,geo textile (teram type )fill with 40mm stone cover with textile and put a permeable surface on top

 

[Lincs Lass]

The plastic crates have a large weight per cb mtr , they are used alot under paved car parks ,,5 per cb mtr ,£30 ?? per section.

 

[Kidds]

Soil type is clay.

It's not going to soak away then is it, sounds like you are building a reservoir instead.

 

[Matt L]

Just dig it out. Line with Terran and fill with crush concrete. Blind the top with type one if you want or just bring the crush right to the surface
Pipe into ditch to allow water out using a length of 100mm two wall will be fine.

 

[edessex]

It's not going to soak away then is it, sounds like you are building a reservoir instead.

"My plan is to dig this area out, create a sump/soakaway with hardcore, and run a pipe to the ditch."

 

[edessex]

The plastic crates have a large weight per cb mtr , they are used alot under paved car parks ,,5 per cb mtr ,£30 ?? per section.

I'd be less concerned if it was just cars driving over, but there will be an occasional lorry...

 

[Kidds]

"My plan is to dig this area out, create a sump/soakaway with hardcore, and run a pipe to the ditch."

Do what Matt suggests then, that would be my approach but I would use half housebrick size rubble. ie. don't go too fine with the fill or it won't hold much water.
Look up the spec on soakaway crates, I think they have to be buried 3m for heavy traffic.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Crates are expensive.

clay and soak aways dont work, Teram, Stone and drain to ditch.

 

[edessex]

I'm only using the term 'soakaway' as it's a recognised term. Realistically it's more of a surface water collection point, which will then drain into a pipe, into the ditch.

At a rough guess, I'll have about 1.5-2.0m from the finished road surface level, to the bottom of the ditch.
So if I was to use crates, I wouldn't be able to bury them deep.

In my mind the way to go would be hardcore (min housebrick size), plus 40mm shingle. To allow water to flow through, while remaining firm to drive machinery over.
Membrane, crushed concrete and possibly road planings over the top.

110mm solid pipe from the edge of the roadway to the ditch (won't be driven over).

But I've never done this before. So after input from you guys.

 

[Kidds]

Sounds a good plan to me

 

[Matt L]

Use twinwall rather than solid as it will drain into it. Plenty strong enough to support the load. Just make sure the full is put in neatly around it to secure it and hold it

 

[edessex]

It's only a 15ft run to the ditch, and I've already got a length of solid pipe that would do the job...

 

[Matt L]

If you want to use the pipe just cut some slots in with a grinder. No point having pipe that won’t drain when it can.