Soil Investigation
Soil Investigation
Professional Soil Investigation for Drainage Design
Percolation testing, infiltration testing and trial pit investigation are essential ground investigation informing drainage field design, soakaway sizing, and development feasibility.
Overview
Designing drainage fields, soakaways and infiltration systems requires understanding how quickly soil absorbs water – too slow and systems flood, too fast and inadequate treatment occurs.
WCI Water & Wastewater Engineers provides professional soil investigation services establishing ground conditions and infiltration rates that inform compliant drainage design.
When You Need Soil Investigation
Building Regulations require percolation testing before drainage field installation - without proper testing results, Building Control won't approve systems. Professional testing satisfies this requirement and provides documentation for approval.
Correct System Sizing
Drainage field and soakaway size depends directly on soil infiltration rate. Testing prevents under-sized systems that flood or over-sized systems wasting land and money.
Avoid System Failure
Drainage fields installed without testing often fail – wrong soil assumptions lead to incorrect sizing, causing chronic problems and expensive replacement. Testing prevents these failures.
Development Feasibility
Understanding whether soil can accommodate drainage fields affects site viability and layout. Early testing informs development decisions before detailed design investment.
Design Confidence
Designers (whether architects, engineers, or Building Control officers) require soil data for confident system specification. Professional testing provides this foundation.
The WCI Difference - Soil Investigation Specifically For Drainage Design
Our soil investigation includes percolation testing for septic tank drainage fields, infiltration testing for surface water soakaways and trial pit investigation revealing ground conditions and constraints. Testing to British Standards provides the data Building Control, Environment Agency, and designers need for compliant systems.
Drainage-Specialist Testing
We understand what the data means for system performance, not just how to complete test procedures. This knowledge ensures testing locations and methods suit your project.
British Standards Compliance
Our testing follows British Standards (BS 6297 for percolation, BRE Digest 365 for infiltration) ensuring results are accepted by Building Control, designers, and regulatory authorities.
Realistic Interpretation
We provide honest interpretation of results – if soil won’t accommodate drainage fields or soakaways, we tell you directly and advise on alternatives rather than providing optimistic assessments that lead to failed systems.
Integrated Design Capability
As part of WCI Group, if testing reveals challenging ground conditions, our Consulting Engineers can design alternative solutions. Testing informs realistic design, not just identifies problems.
Percolation Testing – For septic tank drainage field design.
Infiltration Testing (BRE Digest 365) – For surface water soakaway design.
Trial Pit Investigation – Revealing ground conditions and constraints.
Who Would Benefit From Soil Investigation?
Self-Builders
Individuals building homes on plots without mains drainage need percolation testing for drainage field design and Building Regulations approval.
Homeowners Replacing Systems
Property owners replacing failed septic tanks or drainage fields require testing confirming replacement systems are correctly sized for ground conditions.
Developers
Residential or commercial developments requiring drainage design need soil investigation establishing ground suitability and informing system specification.
Architects & Designers
Design professionals require soil data before specifying drainage systems—our testing provides the foundation for confident design decisions.
Planning Consultants
Supporting planning applications with evidence that private drainage is viable for proposed development.
Property Buyers
Due diligence before land purchase – confirming ground conditions support intended drainage strategy before committing to acquisition.
Similar Projects
Soil Investigation
Silent, Low-Profile Drainage for a Treehouse Guest House
Little Cheriton House needed drainage for a treehouse guest house with an exacting brief: completely silent, minimum visual impact, designed to work with steep natural terrain. WCI delivered.
Soil Investigation
Surface Water Drainage Design for a Listed House Extension
Planning permission for an extension to a listed property required BRE 365 infiltration testing and a compliant soakaway design. WCI confirmed soil suitability and produced the full drainage scheme.
Wastewater Treatment Design
Strategic Drainage Review and New Commercial GRAF STP for a Growing Care Home in Somerset
When Chelston Park nursing home’s treatment system breached its EA permit, WCI Consulting Engineers carried out a comprehensive strategic review before committing to any replacement – and the right solution followed.
Ready To Dig Deeper?
Professional soil investigation removes guesswork from drainage design - British Standards testing provides the data needed for compliant, correctly sized systems that work reliably.
