Karmah Trading & Services (KTS), based in Doha since 2004, supplies Modular Soakaway Crates (also known as geocellular attenuation tanks or infiltration crates) for managing stormwater runoff in Qatar's residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. Our soakaway systems address the regulatory requirement for on-site stormwater management, preventing overloading of Qatar's municipal drainage network during rain events.
Qatar receives an average annual rainfall of just 75 mm, but when rain does occur it tends to arrive in short, intense bursts that can deposit 20 mm or more in under an hour. The combination of low permeability soils, extensive hard paving, and limited public drainage capacity means that even moderate rainfall events can cause surface flooding. Ashghal's drainage design guidelines require developers to attenuate stormwater runoff to pre-development rates, and soakaway crates are the most space-efficient solution.
Our modular soakaway crates are high-strength polypropylene units that stack and interlock to form underground water storage structures. Each unit measures 800×500×540 mm (L×W×H) and provides a void ratio of 95%, meaning that 95% of the excavated volume is available for water storage. When wrapped in a permeable geotextile, the system acts as an infiltration soakaway, allowing stored water to percolate into the surrounding soil. When wrapped in an impermeable geomembrane, the system functions as an attenuation tank, releasing stored water at a controlled rate via a flow control device.
Structural performance is a key advantage. Our crates support a vertical load of 400 kN/m² (approximately 40 tonnes/m²), allowing installation under car parks, roads, and landscaped areas without the need for additional structural support. The interlocking design distributes load evenly and maintains structural integrity even under asymmetric loading conditions.
KTS engineers provide full design support including storage volume calculation (using the Modified Rational Method per Ashghal guidelines), soil permeability assessment coordination, crate layout drawings, geotextile/geomembrane specification, and overflow connection details. We work with civil contractors and drainage consultants to integrate the soakaway into the overall site drainage design.
Installation is fast — a team of four can assemble 100 m³ of storage capacity in a single day, compared to several weeks for a traditional reinforced concrete tank. This speed advantage is valuable in Qatar's fast-track construction environment.
KTS stocks soakaway crates in our Doha warehouse for immediate supply. We also provide geotextile, geomembrane, inspection risers, and flow control chambers as a complete system package. For design assistance or quotation, contact +974 44505001 or karmah@kts-qatar.com.
