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Plan site drainage with confidence
Drainage is an essential part of any landscaping or building project. Whether you’re planning work around an existing property or building a new development, understanding a site’s drainage is vital.
Any project that includes digging below the surface must consider the existing drainage networks to avoid accidental damage and ensure proper water management during construction. Surface water drainage design must consider how surface water will affect a site and its surrounding areas. For new developments, both surface and foul drainage design will need to plan effective discharge points.
Our above ground drainage surveys include surface components like manhole locations, drainage channels and waste pipes. The details we record are needed to update out of date drainage records or when preparing new drainage plans for adoption by the local authority.
Our survey information supports drain companies for their drainage mapping and other services. We make it easier for them to locate manholes, create accurate drain maps and conduct inspections to identify issues. Our drainage surveys also help civil engineers and groundworkers with new drainage installations and mitigating flooding issues.
What projects need location surveys for manholes and drainage?
Any new project that needs to connect to existing drainage will require accurate information on the location and level of the drainage. These projects can be small and straightforward or large and complex. They include extensions to properties, new builds (domestic and commercial), and landscaping with complex levels or drainage problems.
What features can our surveys show to support drainage planning and design?
A topographical survey will show all the surface level features relating to existing drainage. We can lift manholes (as feasible) and survey the level of the drain. We don’t provide underground tracing of services, but regularly work with drainage companies who have the equipment to trace the line of drain. The surface drainage and buried service information can then be combined to give you the full picture of the site’s drain system.
A topographical survey will pick the position and level of:
- Manhole and drainage cover positions – external foul and surface water drainage
- Inspection chambers
- Drainage channels
- Gullies
- Culverts
Precise as-built site drainage plans
As-built surveys can be conducted both pre- and post-build. With precise details for site drainage plans, you can prevent costly design errors and make your drainage planning and design more efficient. Post-construction as-built surveys are an ideal way of providing quality assurance, including for new drainage installations.
Flexible data presentation
We can separate and break down your drainage data so you can use it in the ways that best suit your project. We can present it in multiple ways, including simplified CAD models with only the specific information you need.
Setting out drains with accuracy
Once the new drainage solution has been designed and approved we can assist the groundworkers by setting out the position of new manholes, gullies and pop ups within a building. Setting out drains like this ensures these elements are put in the right place during construction.
How our surveys benefit site drainage planning, design and installation
Properly identifying the location of manholes, access points and other drainage features can help maintenance teams easily access drainage systems later. Drainage maintenance and above ground upgrades can be performed more efficiently, without having to dig up areas.
The clear and accurate identification of drainage features helps to prevent drainage problems from clashes between construction work and existing drainage systems.
Topographical surveys provide details on surface drainage features that can impact construction plans. Details of above ground gradients greatly benefit your project’s design team. It provides a better understanding of how surface water drains and flows over your site, and how it enters the underground drainage and sewage system. It also assists in the creation of site drainage plans, including surface and foul drainage design.
A topographical survey is often required as part of site-specific flood risk assessments. It helps to assess the current flood risk from both surface and foul water, as well as demonstrate the impact of the proposed development.
This can then help to inform any mitigation measures required to minimise flood risk. For smaller projects, a topographical survey can assist professionals advising on localised water issues or drainage problems. These could include water pooling in a garden, erosion of banks and ditches, and the creation of attention ponds and decorative or wildlife ponds.
An as-built survey of constructed drainage is required for sign off and/or drainage adoption by the water companies and road adoption by the Local Authority. For regulatory compliance, up to date, accurate and well presented plans make the process smoother and quicker.
What surveys could you need?
As-Built Surveys
A fully up-to-date record of what has just been constructed, ensuring it matches the proposed plans. Useful for producing further plans that require an accurate site layout.
Floor Level Surveys
Quality survey check for various floor construction stages, from existing floors to newly constructed slabs.
Garden Surveys
Highly detailed, specialist topographical survey for garden landscaping and redesigns.
River & Floodplain Surveys
Surveys of riverbanks and beds, as well as adjacent floodplains. We record water levels and significant features for flood risk assessments and erosion monitoring.
Road Surveys
Comprehensive record of current road layouts and levels, including kerbs, street furniture and road markings. Ideal for visibility splays and new highways designs.
Setting Out
Geocordinated setting out services for building groundworks and steelworks for new housing, commercial and industrial sites.
Topographical Surveys
Accurate, scaled plan of a site’s terrain, and a record of the position and levels of both manmade and natural features.
Speak to our experts
Get free advice or a quote from our experienced team.
We’re known for our reliable, quality service and attention to detail.
Why choose Cheshire Surveys
We provide a range of surveys and related services across the North West, Cheshire, North Staffordshire and North Wales.
Passion & technical expertise
25+ years experience
Quality services tailored to your project
Meet our team on site
How we work
Step 01
Request a quote
We’ll need your project’s address and a site plan. We’ll then get in touch for a consultation to confirm site details and understand exactly what your project needs.
Step 02
Quote accepted
Once your project is confirmed with us, we’ll arrange a convenient date for your survey.
Step 03
We complete your survey
We’ll visit your project site to carry out the survey. We can meet you on site if needed. We will then process the survey data and create a survey drawing.
Step 04
Receive your survey
We’ll share the survey data with you, usually within a few days. We use industry standard file types and can issue all the drawings in multiple formats.
