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Frequently Asked Questions

Home Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a Soakwell Essential?

Forgetting the fact that managing rainwater on your property is a legal requirement, it makes absolutely no sense to cut corners with your soakwell system. When a volume of rain water arrives, you need the confidence that your soakwells will perform as required.

Rain water which is not effectively manged on your property can cause a range of issues. Apart from the obvious effects of erosion on your property and your neighbours, a build-up of water against your property can cause many issues including:

Erosion of house stumps and building subsidence
Subsidence of footings and concrete pads
Rising damp to walls and footings and flooring
Wood rot
And let’s not forget termites love a drink and you could be the key provider

Unless you effectively manage rainwater on your property, you could be faced with carrying out extensive repairs and renovations to your home, both inside and out, above and below. However, if you install a soakwell system which is designed to accommodate the expected levels of rain water for your property, you are likely to avoid significant maintenance costs and avoid issues with your neighbours.

Why Soakwells are important.

What are soakwells?

Soakwells are subsurface water tanks that aid in the on-site detention of rainwater collected from roof areas. Soakwells protect your home against flooding, soil erosion, and rain damage. In addition, soakwells prevent your water from flowing into neighboring properties, which is your legal obligation as a homeowner.

What is the difference between ‘storage volume’ and ‘flow volume’ of polypropylene soakwells?

The storage volume is the actual storage capacity of a soakwell, while the flow volume takes into account the rate of drainage. As the polypropylene soakwells have 65% drainage area, they drain 50% faster than concrete soakwells, which in turn results in a ‘flow volume’ of approximately 1.5 X the storage volume.

Are concrete soakwells the best?

No, although concrete soakwells are strong they are certainly not the most efficient. The polypropylene tanks have 65% surface drainage area and therefore drain 50% faster. They are also fully trafficable, resistant to degradation and environmentally friendly as they are made from recycled materials. In addition, unlike concrete tanks, the polypropylene tanks can cater for any volume requirements and are perfect for small confined spaces.

Do you attach the soakwell plumbing directly to the down pipes?

We prefer to install open grated drain tops directly under the downpipes. This prevents any overflow backing up into the ceilings. The soakwells are unlikely to flood but this is still a risk not worth taking. The open grated drain tops also act as a leaf trap, preventing your soakwells filling up with leaves and other organic matter that has drained from your roof.

Is it the law to have soakwells?

In WA your only legal obligation is to retain the stormwater on your property. In most cases, the installation of soakwells is the most effective way to achieve this. Your local council will provide recommendations for the volume of soakwell to be installed for your property. This will ensure stormwater is effectively detained within your property. However, you are not legally obliged to install soakwells.

What volume of polypropylene soakwell do I need for my home?

The polypropylene soakwells have 65% more drainage surface area than their concrete counterpart and are less likely to flood. However, it always better to go for the full volume that the council recommends as this will guarantee sufficient volume even in heavy downpours that are experienced around 1 in 20 years in Perth.

Do you install one small polypropylene soakwell per down pipe?

We usually assemble the polypropylene soakwells as one or two larger tanks and run all the down pipes into it. One tank per downpipe doesn’t always work as it depends on the surface area of roof that each service. This is why we ask for the total roof area (m²) and calculate the required number of polypropylene tanks from that, rather than the number of down pipes.

Will the polypropylene soakwells collapse like plastic (Bunnings) soakwells?

No, the polypropylene soakwells are completely different to plastic PVC soakwells. They are fully trafficable and non-biodegradable so they will last forever. Unlike plastic PVC soakwells, the polypropylene soakwells will not collapse!

Can we be assured of quality workmanship?

Yes, please be assured that Simply Soakwells is a registered business and a member of the Master Builders Association of WA. We are insured and all our work also comes with a 10-year guarantee on products and workmanship.

Can I be issued with a non-compliance order if I do not install soakwells of volume specified by the local council?

The volume of soakwell recommended by your council is a guide only, not a requirement. As such, you will not need to provide proof of the volume of soakwell that you have had installed and you cannot receive a council notice or fine if you do not install the recommended volume. However, the closer you are to the recommended volume, the less the risk of overflow, as the councils have determined this volume from years of statistics on rainfall. This means there is less risk of stormwater flowing into neighboring properties, which can result in a non-compliance order, as well as less risk of damage to your home.

Whats are the Specifications for the Drainwell Polypropylene Soakwells

You can find the specification located on the soakwells page