A pit excavated into the earth and filled with coarse stone, debris, or plastic crates is known as a soakaway. Water may pass through it and essentially seep into the earth.

Instead of draining surface water into a stream or sewer system, soakaways are utilised to control surface water at its source. A very efficient method of managing surface water, soakaways concentrate all run-off into one location before allowing it to seep gradually into the earth or ground where it falls.