Case Study: Off-Mains CCTV Drainage Survey in Rural Alton
Rural Alton (GU34)
While Alton boasts a historic market town centre, many of the surrounding London villages rely on off-mains drainage systems like septic tanks and soakaways. A homeowner in a rural GU34 property contacted us after noticing their garden was becoming severely waterlogged. Here is how our CCTV Drainage Survey pinpointed the exact failure in their off-mains system.
The Problem: A Waterlogged Garden in GU34
The client had recently moved into a beautiful rural property outside Alton. After a period of heavy rain, they noticed a foul smell and significant waterlogging in the lower part of their garden, near where they believed their septic tank soakaway was located. They were worried the entire septic tank had failed, which would be a massive expense.
The Solution: Specialist Off-Mains CCTV Survey
Off-mains drainage requires specialist knowledge. Our engineers arrived and conducted a thorough CCTV Drainage Survey, starting from the house, through the septic tank, and out into the soakaway pipework.
The camera inspection revealed exactly what was causing the flooding:
- Crushed Soakaway Pipe: The septic tank itself was functioning perfectly. However, the main pipe leading from the tank to the soakaway field had been crushed by heavy agricultural machinery driving over the soft ground above it.
- Root Ingress: The crushed pipe had allowed roots from nearby hedges to enter and completely block the remaining flow, forcing the effluent to back up and flood the garden.
The Outcome: Targeted Excavation and Repair
Because our CCTV survey featured built-in sonar tracing, we were able to map the exact location and depth of the crushed pipe above ground. This was crucial. Instead of digging up the entire garden to find the fault, we performed a highly targeted excavation.
We excavated a small 2-metre trench, removed the crushed section of pipe, and replaced it with modern, heavy-duty PVC piping. We then cleared the root mass and restored the system to full working order, saving the client thousands of pounds compared to replacing the entire soakaway system.
Rural Drainage Experts in Alton
Properties in Alton and the surrounding GU34 villages often have unique drainage setups. Whether you are on mains sewage or rely on a septic tank, our local engineers have the technology and expertise to diagnose and fix the problem efficiently.