Drainage and soakaway wells

Drainage wells may help manage surface water where the ground and local requirements allow infiltration.

Drainage and soakaway wells are used to manage standing water and improve drainage where the ground permits infiltration. Projects described on this site commonly consider depths around 10–30 metres, but the correct depth and infiltration layer must be established for the specific property.

Clay-rich ground can prevent rainwater from draining and lead to ponding after heavy rainfall. A drainage solution must assess soil permeability, groundwater level and the receiving layer before drilling. The design and required approvals must protect groundwater; untreated surface water must not be routed into a drinking-water aquifer.

• Depth selected from ground and drainage conditions
• Drainage and infiltration planning
• Assessment of ponding on clay-rich ground
• Suitable receiving layer and soil permeability
• Groundwater protection and project requirements