Sinkhole caused through soak pit
According to Mr Rampersadh, who has lived in his house since 1997, the previous owners must have created the soak pit and covered it in an inappropriate way.
Since the appearance of a sinkhole in his yard, Jocks Rampersadh has found that filling the gaping hole would not be as easy as he thought.
Last week, the Newcastle Sun published an article about the sinkhole in Mr Rampersadh’s yard in Lenton Street.
“After the sinkhole appeared, I phoned my ward councillor to find out who was responsible for filling it up. I was told that due to the fact it was on my property, I would have to fill it myself.”
But, to make double sure, Mr Rampersadh said he was urged by his ward councillor to contact the municipality.
“A man came out and confirmed that it was my responsibility.”
It was when Mr Rampersadh hired labourers to fill the sinkhole that matters became complicated.
“One of the labourers found water seeping into the hole and upon having the water tested, chlorine was found in the water,” said Mr Rampersadh.
After investigations, it was discovered that the sink hole originated from a soak pit.
A soak pit is a covered, porous-walled chamber that allows water to slowly soak into the ground.
The soak pit can be left empty and lined with a porous material (to provide support and prevent collapse), which the creators of the soak pit obviously did not do, or left unlined and filled with coarse rocks and gravel.
The rocks and gravel will prevent the walls from collapsing, but will still provide adequate space for the wastewater.
A layer of sand and fine gravel should be spread across the bottom to help disperse the flow. The soak pit should be between one-and-a-half and four metres deep, but never less than one- and-a-half meters above the ground water table.
According to Mr Rampersadh, who has lived in his house since 1997, the previous owners must have created the soak pit and covered it in an inappropriate way.
“The municipality was nice enough to close it for me,” said Mr Rampersadh.
