Heavy vehicles driving over the garden, ground subsidence, or poorly compacted backfill can crush the perforated pipes or plastic crates that form the soakaway’s void.
Rainwater washing off roofs, driveways, or patios carries microscopic particles of dirt, sand, and organic matter. Over years, this silt settles at the bottom of the soakaway, clogging the pores of the stone or plastic and sealing the base. Essentially, the soakaway fills up with mud. blocked soakaways
In septic tank soakaways, bacteria in the effluent create a slimy, jelly-like layer called a biomat . While a thin biomat is beneficial for filtration, a thick one becomes impermeable, preventing any water from escaping. Heavy vehicles driving over the garden, ground subsidence,
Tree and shrub roots seek out moisture and nutrients. If a soakaway holds water for long periods, roots will grow through small cracks or joints in the structure, eventually forming a dense mat that physically blocks the outlets. Essentially, the soakaway fills up with mud
