SiteRep

Do I need a soakaway for a new house in Ireland?

A new house needs a means of disposing of surface water, and where there is no surface water sewer or watercourse available, infiltration to ground via a soakaway is normally the solution. Whether a soakaway is feasible depends on percolation testing, and the local authority may require attenuation as well or instead.

Building regulations require adequate surface water drainage from a dwelling. In rural and many suburban locations, there is no public surface water sewer, so run-off has to be managed on the site itself. A soakaway is the usual approach where the subsoil accepts water at a reasonable rate.

Planning conditions increasingly require a sustainable drainage approach, meaning run-off is managed close to source and the rate of discharge leaving the site is limited. Your engineer should confirm the strategy with the local authority's drainage requirements before construction.

What determines the solution

  • Results of percolation testing on the site
  • Depth to bedrock and to the water table
  • Availability of a surface water sewer or watercourse
  • Local authority development plan drainage and SuDS requirements
  • Any planning conditions attached to your permission

Sources

Last reviewed 25 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

Related questions