Using records to find the septic drainfield or soakbed:

How to obtain records and revew documents to find the septic tank, drainfield, or soakaway bed. We explain where to go to ask for records that can document the "as approved" as well as the "as built" septic system design. We warn that because of discoveries that may be made during site excavation to install a septic system tank or drainfield, the "as built" results do not always agree with the "as approved" or "as planned" design.

How to Use Septic System Records to Find the Drainfield - Whom to Ask - How to Find the Septic Leach Fields - Part 3

Finding a hidden, buried septic component: Since the septic system's drainfield is normally a buried system, knowing just where it is located can be tricky.

Since haphazard excavation by hand is an enormous labor and haphazard excavation by backhoe can unnecessarily destroy both a septic system and homesite, making a sketch of just where a septic tank, distribution box, and drainfield trenches or pits are located is an important document to prepare and keep with a property.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Older properties:

 If the property is an older one but you are a new owner, you might find that the previous owner left a drawing or sketch of the location of septic system components. Ask the owner to leave any sketches with you; if they don't have a sketch but have an idea where septic components are, walk the property with them and make your own sketch.

Often we find a rough sketch of septic system component locations, at least that of the septic tank, drawn right on a basement or crawl space foundation wall or floor joist overhead where the building sewer line exits the foundation wall.

A previous service person or contractor knew that that was a reliable place to leave a drawing since anyone looking for the system in the future was likely to start by finding where the sewer line left the building.

Septic Drawings may be inaccurate:

A septic system drawing is a big help, though it may be inaccurate. Even if septic system and drainfield layout drawings were filed, the "as built" drain field may not quite be the same as the plan filed since obstructions can be discovered during drain field installation. If the excavator hit unexpected bedrock, boulders, or water, may have adjusted the final location of various components to work better at the site.

The sketch below uses a simple but accurate measurement triangle to locate the center of the septic tank.

The sketch at left shows that giving accurate location of septic components needs simply the identification of key components and distances. It does not have to be beautiful, to scale, nor expensive.

DISTANCE TO SEPTIC TANK gives details of making a septic location sketch.

Don't count on the local health department or building department to have drawings that accurately place the fields. As we explained above, the "as built" may not be the same septic plan as the "as approved".

One municipality we encountered had deliberately destroyed 50 years of septic and other building plan documents because they were tired of being pestered by homeowners wanting that information and then complaining when it proved inaccurate.

Try calling local septic system installation contractors in your area to ask if they have done work on the property.

Speak with contractors listed under Excavation, Plumbing, and Septic System Service since the excavator who has installed or worked on the property of your concern might be listed under one but not all of those categories. Neighbors may also know who has worked on septic system installations or repairs in the area.

This article series and our accompanying

SEPTIC LOCATION VIDEO where we show by walking a site just how to find the leach field or drainfield portion of a septic system. We include sketches and photos that help you learn what to look for, and we describe several methods useful for finding buried drainfield components. (Septic drain fields are also called soil absorption systems or seepage beds.)

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2021-04-08 by Donald Irelan Sr

show records for septic system

On 2021-03-23 - by (mod) -

@Joseph Coburn,

Sure Joseph, glad to help find the leach bed at your property:

Just step through the "how to find the drainfield" tips and procedures at the articles given above at "Recommended Articles"
titled

SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION - start here

DRAINFIELD PIPE LOCATION, PRECISE - use these steps if you need to be exact

More drainfield location options and methods:

EXCAVATE to LOCATE DRAINFIELD
REASONS to FIND THE DRAINFIELD
RECORDS to LOCATE the DRAINFIELD
SURPRISING DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS
UNLIKELY DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS
VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the DRAINFIELD
VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the SEPTIC TANK

On 2021-03-23 by Joseph Coburn

need to find leach bed

On 2021-03-06 - by (mod) -

@Dan Dyer,

IN addition to contacting your local building department to see if a plan for your septic is on file (beware that "as filed" is not always the same as "as-built" for septic systems

also see your comments at your duplicate post at

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Drainfield_Location_Exact.php

On 2021-03-06 by Dan Dyer

I'm digging out where my drain field is located and I need to find out where the rest is before I continue so I can get job done

On 2021-02-15 - by (mod) -

Greg

This page discusses methods for finding the septic drainfield or leachfield.

Also see

SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Find.php

SEPTIC D-BOX LOCATION https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_D-Box.php#Find

On 2021-02-14 by Greg

Trying to find septic system

On 2020-12-09 by Art schwab - find the location of my drainfield, 49th Drive, Yuma AZ

Location septic drain field 13368 e

49th dr yuma

On 2020-07-10 - by (mod) -

Did you try checking with your local building or health department?

On 2020-07-09 by Anonymous

I need to see if there is public record of a septic tank at 5391 Hollis Goodwin rd.,Alabama

...

Continue reading  at SURPRISING DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Septic Drainfield Location Articles

• CLEARANCE DISTANCES, SEPTIC SYSTEM
• ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER
• SEPTIC COMPONENT LOCATIONS
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST - home
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION
• DRAINFIELD PIPE LOCATION, PRECISE
• EXCAVATE to LOCATE DRAINFIELD
• REASONS to FIND THE DRAINFIELD
• RECORDS to LOCATE the DRAINFIELD
• SURPRISING DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS
• UNLIKELY DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS
• VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the DRAINFIELD
• VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the SEPTIC TANK
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD RESTORERS?
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE
• SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND for details about finding the septic tank or chamber or drywell or seepage pit.
• SEPTIC VIDEOS on septic system location

Suggested citation for this web page

RECORDS to LOCATE the DRAINFIELD at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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