Borehole Soakaways
The Deep Drainage Solution
Sometimes, the ground just won’t play ball. If you have clay soil or limited space, a standard drainage system might not work. That is where a borehole soakaway comes in.
What is it? Think of a standard soakaway as a wide, shallow pit just under your lawn. It relies on the top layer of soil to soak up water. A borehole soakaway is different. It is a deep, vertical pipe drilled straight down into the earth.
In simple terms: Instead of spreading water out, we send it down—past the clay and into the deep, permeable layers of ground that can actually absorb it.
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When Do You Need One?
ASL usually recommends this solution when a standard soakaway just isn’t an option. This happens if:
- You have clay soil: Clay holds water like a bowl, stopping it from draining away.
- You are short on space: You don’t have a large enough garden for a traditional trench or crate system.
- Your old system has failed: Your existing soakaway is clogged or flooding.
- The rules say so: Modern regulations are strict about where water goes; a borehole is often the only way to meet them on difficult sites.
We use them to handle rainwater (from roofs and driveways) or treated water from treatment plants (subject to environmental permit).
How We Install Them
It sounds like a major operation, but we keep the process streamlined and tidy.
1. Checking the Ground – Before we drill, we need to know what lies beneath. We assess your property, check the soil type, assess geological data and look at the layout of your garden. We make sure we are drilling in a safe spot, away from buildings and boundaries.
2. Drilling the Borehole – We use a specialist drilling rig to create a deep, vertical shaft. We keep drilling (to a maximum depth of 10m) until we hit a “permeable” layer—usually chalk, sand, or gravel—that acts like a sponge for the water to disperse.
3. Connecting it Up – Once the hole is ready, we install perforated pipework within the borehole, surrounded with agrgegate and install a chamber (a small access point) to connect your pipes to it. We design this carefully to stop leaves and debris from blocking the deep hole, ensuring it lasts for years. Multiple boreholes can be interlinked to work in tandem.
4. Testing it Works – We don’t just guess; we test. We run water through the system to prove it drains away as it should. We also walk you through how to look after it (don’t worry, it’s usually very low maintenance).
Why Choose a Borehole Soakaway?
If you have been struggling with a boggy garden or have limited space, this system can be a game-changer.
- It works where others fail: The only reliable solution for heavy clay soil.
- It saves space: Takes up a fraction of the room of a traditional soakaway.
- It stops flooding: Properly directs water away from the surface.
- It is neat: Minimal disruption to your garden compared to digging huge trenches.
Who is this for? We install these for everyone from homeowners with flooded driveways to developers building new homes on difficult land. If water has nowhere to go on your property, a borehole is often the answer.
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
“I called at 08:10 hours to report a blocked drain. A little while later, Darren rang to tell me he’d arrive in half an hour. He arrived on time and resolved the problem quickly and without fuss. He was polite and friendly throughout. Within two hours of reporting the blockage, all was well. Thank you.” Customer, Surrey
“I unreservedly recommend ASL. All the glowing reviews of ASL are true. They had to lift paving slabs to fix my drains, and I was concerned there might be unavoidable damage. I should not have worried. Liam and Richard did a superb job. Thanks, ASL” Customer, Surrey
“Darren arrived very promptly and got to work quickly. He did an excellent job and explained what he was doing. We would have no hesitation in recommending ASL Services.” Customer, Surrey
“Very efficient to book them to sort out a sewer drain blockage, and the cost was exactly what they quoted. Called before they arrived with a clear ETA. Got on with the job and sorted it out within the hour. Darren was excellent – very courteous and helpful, did more than we expected to help sort the problem out and was a font of knowledge on all things sewer-related. Given the subject matter (eeew) the whole experience with ASL was an absolute pleasure.” Customer, Surrey
“ASL recently carried out a drain repair at our house. They responded quickly to the call for help, came out and soon diagnosed the problem – tree roots blocking the drain. The remedial work on site was carried out by Lester and George – they worked hard and were very thorough. This is a long-established company that seems to know what they are doing.” Customer, Surrey
Areas we cover
Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, West Sussex and South West London
The ASL Limited HQ is in Guildford, but our operating area is the whole of Surrey and parts of Berkshire, Hampshire, West Sussex and South West London.
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Get in touch today
You can call us on 0800 181 684, email info@asllimited.co.uk or use the form below:
