Quck answer
A soak pit is a simple and effective solution for managing excess water and preventing flooding. Here are the steps to make a soak pit:
1. Choose a suitable location: Find a spot in your yard or garden where the water can easily drain into the ground.
2. Dig a pit: Dig a hole that is deep enough to allow for proper drainage. The size of the pit will depend on the amount of water you need to manage.
3. Line the pit: Line the pit with a layer of gravel to create a reservoir for the water to collect.
4. Add a perforated pipe: Place a perforated pipe in the center of the pit to ensure proper drainage.
5. Cover the pit: Cover the pit with a layer of gravel or stones to prevent debris from clogging the perforated pipe.
6. Direct water to the pit: Redirect the water from your roof or other sources towards the soak pit using gutters and pipes.
7. Maintain the soak pit: Regularly inspect and clean the soak pit to prevent blockages and ensure its effectiveness.
By following these steps, you can easily create a soak pit to manage excess water and avoid flooding in your surroundings.
Excessive rainfall can cause problems for homeowners, regardless of location. A low-lying area in your yard can easily become a temporary pond, which can last for days or even cause water to back up into your basement or home. A soak pit is an effective solution to drain water from these areas into a storage area, allowing it to safely saturate back into the water table. Although creating a soak pit is labor-intensive when done manually, using a small backhoe can speed up the process.
Step 1
Begin by excavating a 3-foot cube in the ground. Dig the hole away from the low-lying and wet area where there is minimal human traffic. Adjust the pit size according to the available space and soil type.
Step 2
Excavate a 1-foot-deep and 6-inch-wide trench from the area with excessive water to the soak pit. The trench should slope 1/4 inch for every 10 feet in length, allowing the water to drain towards the pit. The trench should end at the beginning of the soak pit.
Step 3
Prevent dirt from filling into the pit by covering the excavation walls. You can use construction blocks or a cement crepe as an alternative.
Step 4
Create a four-sided chamber by stacking blocks on top of each other around the excavated area. There is no need to mortar them together. Leave enough space between two blocks to allow access to the drain pipe. Fill in the space between the outside of the concrete blocks and the edges of the excavation with soil, then tamp it down.
Step 5
Solidify the dirt walls by hand-tamping them. Mix 4 parts cement, 1 part sand, and enough water to make a thin mixture like pancake batter. Trowel this over the dirt walls of the pit, leaving an opening for the drain pipe. Allow the cement crepe to dry completely.
Step 6
Place 6 inches of sand or gravel at the bottom of the pit. Precise measurements or leveling are unnecessary.
Step 7
Fill the soak pit with rocks of various sizes, taking care not to damage the cement crepe. Do not tightly pack the pit, as it can obstruct water flow. There should be enough rocks to prevent the concrete block walls from pushing inward. The tops of the rocks should be just below the drain pipe entrance.
Step 8
Fill the drainage trench with 2 inches of gravel, ensuring that the downward sloping is protected.
Step 9
Place a perforated PVC drain pipe on the gravel, with the perforated side facing down. The pipe should extend into the center of the pit. Fill the trench with soil and level it slightly higher than the existing soil. The soil will settle downward.
Step 10
Put a large, flat rock under the end of the pipe in the pit. This will disperse the flow of water and prevent erosion of the rocks below.
Step 11
To prevent children from accidentally opening the pit, cover its top with a big sheet of metal or plywood. Then, put two or three heavy objects like concrete blocks on the cover. Alternatively, you can disguise the pit by laying down a few layers of plastic mulch and covering it with soil. On top of the pit, plant grass seed or other plants with shallow roots. Lastly, mark the pit’s location so you can easily find it in the future if necessary.