Percolation Testing in Halesowen

Halesowen is a short drive from our base, and we work there and in the surrounding villages regularly. We carry out BRE365 soakaway percolation testing and BS 6297 foul infiltration testing across Halesowen and the surrounding area.

We have tested 8 sites within five miles of Halesowen, 37 within ten and 199 within twenty-five, so the ground here is familiar to us. Of the 37 tests within ten miles, 35 gave a usable result and 2 showed infiltration too poor for a soakaway, which is exactly why a test is needed before the design is fixed.

Ground conditions in Halesowen

Halesowen gives its name to the Halesowen Formation, the upper Coal Measures sandstones and mudstones that underlie much of the town. Towards the Clent Hills to the south the ground changes to the Clent Breccia, a coarse, rocky deposit, and the valleys carry clay and alluvium.

Sandstone bands can drain well while the mudstones between them hold water, so two pits on the same plot can give quite different results. We record every fill in every pit and use the slowest run, which keeps the soakaway design on the safe side.

What we test for

• BRE365 percolation testing for surface water soakaway design
• Foul effluent infiltration testing (Part H) for septic tanks and treatment plants
• Drainage strategy (SuDS) support for planning applications

How the test is carried out

BRE Digest 365 sets out the procedure. A single filling of a single hole proves very little.

• Trial pits are dug at the proposed soakaway position, taken below the level the soakaway will sit at.
• Each pit is filled to at least 75% of its effective depth, where the timed measurement starts.
• Each pit is filled and timed three times, measuring the fall from 75% to 25% of the effective depth.
• The slowest run is used in the calculation, which keeps the design conservative.

Planning conditions in Halesowen

Halesowen is within Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, which is also the Lead Local Flood Authority. Villages just outside, such as Romsley, come under Bromsgrove District Council. Both routinely ask for BRE365 testing where a soakaway is proposed.

Testing early is worth it. If infiltration is not viable the drainage strategy has to change, and finding that out after the groundworks are priced is an expensive surprise.

Foul drainage and septic tanks

If the site is not on mains foul drainage, that is a separate test. Drainage fields for septic tanks and package treatment plants are sized by the method in BS 6297, referenced by Part H of the Building Regulations, and that figure is not interchangeable with a BRE365 result. We can carry out both on the same visit.

What you receive

• A full report with the recorded times for every pit and every fill
• The calculated infiltration rate, ready for your engineer or planner
• Trial pit locations and depths
• Photographs of the testing on site
• A clear statement of whether a soakaway is viable, and if not, why not

Coverage

We cover the whole of Halesowen, including Hasbury, Hayley Green, Cradley, Quinton, Romsley and Hunnington. Available Monday to Friday.

Get a quote

For a free, no-obligation quote, call 01902 475653, send an enquiry, or if you know where the pits need to go, use our detailed quote request.

Also serving the West Midlands

This page is part of our coverage across the West Midlands, which also includes:

• Birmingham
• Bromsgrove
• Stourbridge
• Dudley