By law in Western Australia, homeowners have an obligation to confine any stormwater runoff within the boundaries of their property. This means rainwater from your roof and paved areas cannot legally drain onto neighbouring properties or into the street. Soakwells provide the legal means to manage stormwater on your property while returning it to the groundwater where it naturally belongs.
The Department of Water encourages infiltration of rainfall at or near source to maintain the site water balance as close as possible to its pre-development hydrology. In simple terms, rain should ideally return to the ground where it falls to maintain the water table. When we cover land with roofs and paving, soakwells allow us to return that water to the earth, mimicking what would happen naturally in undeveloped bushland.
Properly sized soakwells prevent water damage by ensuring your stormwater system can cope during heavy rain events. Without adequate soakwells, water can pool around your home, cause paving to sink, damage foundations, or overflow causing erosion and flooding. Council calculations are designed to ensure no damage occurs and no water leaves your property, even during the worst storms.
Inadequate soakwells can lead to: flooding during storms, water damage to your property and neighbouring properties, sinking paving around drainage points, potential legal issues if water damages neighbouring land, problems with building approvals for renovations or sales, and council compliance issues. Proper soakwell installation based on volume calculations prevents all these problems.
Signs your soakwells may be inadequate include: water pooling during heavy rain, paving sinking around soakwells, water overflowing from downpipes, or if they were installed without proper volume calculations. We can assess your system by calculating required volume based on your catchment area and comparing it to your existing soakwell capacity. Many older systems were installed without proper calculations.
No. In Perth, connecting stormwater to the sewer system is illegal and can result in significant fines. The sewer system is designed for wastewater only, not stormwater. Perth's sandy soil is ideal for soakwells, which allow water to infiltrate naturally back into the groundwater table. This is both environmentally sound and legally required.
In Perth, soakwells are not optional - they're a legal requirement for managing stormwater on your property. Understanding why they're necessary helps property owners make informed decisions about their drainage systems. For detailed information on Perth council regulations, visit our comprehensive guide.
Legal Requirements
The Department of Water encourages infiltration of rainfall events at or near source as a primary means of urban stormwater management to maintain the site water balance as close as possible to its pre-development hydrology.
This means ideally the rain should be returned to the ground where it falls to maintain the water table. Using soakwells allows us to do this when most of a block is covered by an impervious surface (roof/paving).
Building on this, by law in Western Australia homeowners have an obligation to confine any stormwater runoff within the boundaries of their property. Understanding these legal requirements is essential for compliance.
The calculation provided by the council is used to ensure that during storms your system will cope. No damage will be caused and no water will leave your property. Proper soakwell installation based on these calculations ensures your system meets all requirements.
Environmental Benefits
Soakwells serve an important environmental function by maintaining the natural water cycle. When rain falls on undeveloped land, it naturally soaks into the ground, replenishing groundwater supplies.
When we develop land with buildings and paving, we create impervious surfaces that prevent this natural infiltration. Soakwells restore this function by collecting runoff and allowing it to gradually soak back into the earth.
This helps maintain Perth's water table and reduces the burden on stormwater drainage infrastructure that would otherwise carry this water away from where it naturally belongs. Proper soakwell maintenance ensures these environmental benefits continue over time.
Tip! - Always use proper volume calculations based on your catchment area. Installing soakwells without calculations often results in inadequate volume and future problems.
Determining Your Soakwell Requirements
To calculate your soakwell requirements:
Measure your catchment area in m² (roof and paved areas that will drain to soakwells)
Apply your council's formula to calculate required volume
Consider access restrictions (polypropylene required if less than 2m width available)
Assess available space considering minimum distances from footings and boundaries
Ideally group soakwells in as few locations as possible
Try the soakwell calculator tool for easy calculations based on Perth council regulations. For professional installation quotes with detailed volume calculations, contact us for a free assessment.
All About Soakwells is a Perth based Western Australian business that installs and supplies soakwells and stormwater products for new and established homes.
All work is based on proper stormwater calculations using council-approved formulas. We provide quotes with volume calculations and marked-up plans showing proposed installations. For detailed information on requirements, see our council regulations guide.
Both concrete and polypropylene soakwells are fully compliant with Perth council regulations and Australian Standard AS3500.1/3. Whether you need concrete soakwells or polypropylene soakwells, we ensure full compliance.
Proper installation includes: volume calculations, geofabric wrapping, sealed inlets, adequate compaction, and maintenance of minimum distances from footings and boundaries. Regular soakwell maintenance ensures long-term performance.
Understanding why soakwells are required helps ensure Perth property owners maintain legal, functional drainage systems that protect properties and the environment. Contact us for expert advice and free quotes on your soakwell requirements.
