Finding Septic Parts

[BIGNASTY]

Im fixin to do some building a equipment barn that isn't part of this inquiry, and a deck off the sunroom. Im concerned about hitting the septic leach-lines. I know where the clean-out & main tank are, Im ALMOST sure where the leach-line distribution box is. But can't tell what way the leach-lines run. Anyway of telling where they are? without resulting to an expencive as hell bill from a guy with a ground penetration radar device?


BIG

 

[mwilson]

How deep is the tank??

 

[TMyers]

If you know where the distribution box is, uncover it and see which way the tail lines are running. If they are not too deep, you can make a tee out of rebar and probe the ground. Probe the top of the box and that will tell you the depth you're looking for. Tail lines have very little fall. Most tail lines are in a gravel trench, you'll feel it when you hit it. They say the grass is always greener over the septic.

Lastly, if it was permitted, the environmental health dept. should have a drawing that might help.

Good luck!

 

[Larry Willard]

Where we live the health dept would have a record of how it was installed. Try checking with whover does the inspections in your jurisdiction, if any does it there.

 

[fest3er]

Or if you're *real* lucky, your local government will have all the drawings pertaining to your property available online.

(I almost replied with a snarky and unhelpful, "Touch yourself all over. Where it hurts, you'll've found a septic part." But I thought better of it.)

 

[BIGNASTY]

ALL Great info Im going to the hardware store in the AM to get one of the T probes, the county inspection dept was making a change from paper records to computer when they F U B A R 'ed it up and lost a significant amount of records. STORY OF MY LIFE The grade of the land from the house towards the suspected leach-line field is pretty steep. I know where the Main tank is from the clean out and difference in the turf approximately 15 to 20 feet out from the house. then another difference in turf another 20 feet out from that. I have an Amish buddy that came over with a "Waterwitch" if the lines are where he says they are GREAT NO PROBLEM Oo. I don't trust wives tail things like that and the voodoo doll sticking pins. The county did say if the system is disturbed AT ALL they will make you redo the entire system to a Dosing Tank System like we have in Montana its expensive and a PITA

 

[Larry Willard]

As a Plumber, I had a superintendent that "water witched" to find underground water and sewer and he was able hit locate them every time I was with him checking out jobs. Maybe you could dig a few test holes where he said and see if they are close.

 

[Blu-meanie]

That's how they find and drill for water around here. If you use your voodoo dolls right you can even find lost items. Works, you'll see.

 

[moparguy]

With a life spent in the natural gas and pipeline business I've used witching for locating underground utilities so many times there's no way to count em. I have about a 75% confidence factor in witching and will always do a test dig to verify the accuracy the witcher (me or the water guy).

So, if you marked your Amish buddies locations get out the sharp shooter and get to digging.

Good Luck, RR

 

[BIGNASTY]

Well I found the tank, distribution box & leach lines I think there could be some scientific reasoning behind the water witch but I must be from Missouri CAUSE I NEED TO " SHOW ME" It was right where I was told it was

Lot more shallow than I thought, tank was about 20" & distribution box 25" and lines went from 25" to approximately the same hight. Im no expert on these systems but I don't think that there is a great need to have a tremoundous amount of drop between the D Box and the end of the leach line as long as it DOWN HILL