In areas like , where the water table is too high for any pit, building control may approve a rain garden instead of a soakaway. This is a shallow planted basin (300mm deep) filled with gravel, topped with soil and moisture-loving plants (like irises or rushes). The water sits for 24-48 hours then evaporates.
Before you dig, contact or a local surveyor who knows Totton and Eling’s unique geology. A failed soakaway is an expensive hole—a successful one is a dry garden for decades. Have you tried a soakaway in Totton? Share your experience in the comments below!
A soakaway is simply an underground structure (usually a large plastic crate or a pit filled with stone) designed to collect surface water and let it "soak" back into the ground naturally. It prevents water from pooling on your property or overwhelming the public sewers.
