West Bromwich and the wider Sandwell area are close to our Wolverhampton base, and it is one of the areas we test most often. We carry out BRE365 soakaway percolation testing and BS 6297 foul infiltration testing across West Bromwich and the surrounding area.
We have tested 17 sites within five miles of West Bromwich, 46 within ten and 188 within twenty-five, so the ground here is familiar to us. Of the 46 tests within ten miles, 43 gave a usable result and 3 showed infiltration too poor for a soakaway, which is exactly why a test is needed before the design is fixed.
Ground conditions in West Bromwich
West Bromwich sits on the eastern side of the Black Country coalfield, on Coal Measures sandstones and mudstones with glacial clay and sand over them in places. Sandwell Valley to the north-east has its own mix of river and glacial deposits.
The industrial past has left a lot of made ground across Sandwell, and it is the biggest variable we meet here. Fill can drain quickly, but a soakaway built in fill is often questioned, and the natural ground beneath may behave very differently. We log what each pit is dug through so the result means something to the engineer and the Council.
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 West Bromwich
Planning in West Bromwich, Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and Rowley Regis is dealt with by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, which is also the Lead Local Flood Authority. Drainage conditions asking for BRE365 results are common on new homes and extensions where there is no surface water sewer.
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 West Bromwich, including Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury, Rowley Regis and Great Barr. 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.
Percolation testing around West Bromwich
Each dot is a site we have tested. 46 within ten miles of West Bromwich, 188 within twenty-five.
Also serving the West Midlands
This page is part of our coverage across the West Midlands, which also includes: