Soakaway type drain by garage. Problems.

[weeksy]

In front of the garage we've got slatted concrete hobbies, look like a lintel with a long hole through them.

The rain soaks through them to 'somewhere' or not, as the case currently is.

First question is, is this down to us or down to council to investigate?

Where does it drain to usually that may now be blocked?

I've removed 2 paving blocks adjacent to try and clear any issues, but I've accomplished very little as it still wasn't self clearing yesterday.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Assuming it's on your land, it's your responsibility
They usually soak into sand under the bricks, they can get blocked with sludge.

[Dodgy69]

All the rain water off our house goes to soakaways, front and back. There crap but you get a discount on your water rates.

[demographic]

Some just have gravel under them and soak away into that.
The bigger ones Ive seen have connected upto the same rainwater collection the rest of the house gutters and downpipes connect to.
Not so long ago that all went to the sewage treatment works along with the sewage to be treated everytime it chucks it down the treatment place gets overloaded with water that doesn't really need treatment.
Nowadays in modern estates and large buildings it's usually separate and goes to a massive tank that has a smaller pipe leading off and can release the water into the ground far more slowly.
You really don't want to fall into one of those big tanks.

I assume small developments of just a few new homes in amongst a load of old ones just join into the old system but I don't know for sure cos I avoid those sites like the plague.

Might be worth using some drainage rods to see where it goes and where the bends are so you don't need to do as much digging.

[MingtheMerciless]

I suspect it'll be your problem as its on your land. Gutter and rain water runoff should go to soak aways, but if you look at nearly all the conservatory additions locally to me, the down pipes disappear into the ground near the sewer pipe.........
If it goes to a soak away and you live on clay it's a total waste of time (ask me how I know).

[Mussels]

I tried the clay soakaway, I dug 2m and all I got was a 2m deep permanent puddle until the sides collapsed.
If it is a soakaway at the end of your drive then it will only be able to cope with a certain amount of water, once exceeded then it will flood. Unless it is causing you a problem I'd just ignore it.

[weeksy]

It has become a problem, but only recently.

I think a chunk of it is my own fault as it's where I wash muddy bicycles. Often clay based muddy bicycles.

It use to work fine, now it doesn't

[MingtheMerciless]

Obvs its not your muddy bike thats causing the problem but Weeksyminimus's bike, so I'd be stopping his pocket money until he's sorted it.

[weeksy]

Obvs its not your muddy bike thats causing the problem but Weeksyminimus's bike, so I'd be stopping his pocket money until he's sorted it.

Lol he doesn't get any. We've never been into that. He just gets 'stuff' instead really

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

If you mix clay, chalk and water you get concrete

[crust]

I wash my bikes on paving slabs and you'd be amazed just how much dirt actually comes off a bike, especially in winter.

You've been there a few years and done loads of bike washing there, pretty sure your soakaway is solid earth /clay.

[weeksy]

Yeah, it seems to be, the problem now is getting that resolved

[MingtheMerciless]

Have you tried using the hose down the hole and feeding it through. Pictures of you before and after please.

[weeksy]

Have you tried using the hose down the hole and feeding it through. Pictures of you before and after please.

There's no 'hole' as such. Well there's a bit of one as I've now removed 2 blocks, but even if I threw the jetwash at it, without knowing where it goes, would be mostly pointless?

[Yorick]

Bit late now for you, but I've started using local jetwash place.
Let them have all the thick gunge.

[Mussels]

I don't know what to suggest but I'd be weary of using a hose in case you just shift the blockage somewhere harder to get to.
I suppose I'd pull up the grate up and remove what clay I found whilst I follow the drainage channel.

[weeksy]

There's no grate. No holes, nothing

[Yorick]

There's no grate. No holes, nothing

Where did the dirt and crud from the bikes go?

[weeksy]

There's no grate. No holes, nothing

Where did the dirt and crud from the bikes go?

Through the long slats in the concrete bits that span the length of garage door

[Taipan]

They are called channel drains. Normally at the lower end they have a hole that directs the water direct into the soakaway. You can't discharge surface water into the sewer system anymore, so you will have a soakaway of sorts. Lift the furthest grate at the lowest end and start digging out the mud and shit from there and yoiu'll find the exit hole/pipe. It maybe it connects to drain pipe and goes to a properly made large, buried gravel soakaway but your house doesn't look very old to me so I think it's unlikely? Sometimes builders used to chuck all the old half bricks and roof tiles into a big hole and cover with shingle to make a soakaway and save on a skip at the same time.