Inspect Building Sewer Line on Public Sewer
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to figure out if a home is connected to public sewer or private septic
How to inspect or test the main building drain when it's connected to a public sewer:
This article explains what inspections and tests should be performed after we have determined that a building is actually connected to the public sewer system.
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When a Building is Probably Connected to Sewer What Should be Checked?
Sewer Connection Inspection Guide for buildings Built After Sewer System Installation
Action guide when buying a building where a Sewer System is present and the building is the same age or newer than the public sewer system
- The building is (probably) connected to the public sewer:
one would expect that a building that was constructed after a local sewer system was installed on its street would be connected to that system. To do otherwise would be costly and unusual.
You should be able to confirm this connection with your municipal building department.
Watch out: even in a community served by a public sewer, older homes constructed before the public sewer was installed might still be connected to a private on-site septic system. An older septic system of unknown condition may be at or near its end of life and worse, it may be unsafe, risking a collapse hazard.
At GUIDE for BUILDINGS PRE-DATING SEWER INSTALLATION we explain how to determine if the building is connected to a public sewer or to a private septic system. Further investigation may be required. - Inspect the drain system:
After confirming that everyone asserts that the home is connected to the sewer line, your home inspector should visually inspect and also test the building drainage system for evidence of leaks or blockage.
The inspector may also check for the presence of a main trap or house trap where the waste line leaves the building.
Remember that usually the sewer line between the building and the sewer main is owned by and is the responsibility of the property owner.
If the sewer line is old, damaged, or clogged, its repair will probably be at the expense of the owner.
If there are concerns about the age, condition, destination, or history or materials of the main drain, sewer line, or septic piping, you can rent a sewer line inspection video camera or you can hire an expert to perform this service for you.
See SEWER / SEPTIC PIPE CAMERAS - Check the tax bills to see if there is an assessment for sewer costs; check construction records to confirm when and how the building was connected to the sewer system.
- If there is any chance that the building is older than the public sewer system
that it is connected to,
see GUIDE for BUILDINGS PRE-DATING SEWER INSTALLATION
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Continue reading at GUIDE for BUILDINGS PRE-DATING SEWER INSTALLATION or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- SEPTIC or SEWER CONNECTION?
- WHAT TO ASK ABOUT SEWERS or SEPTICS
- CLUES INDICATING A SEWER LINE is PRESENT
- CLUES INDICATING CONNECTED to SEWER
- GUIDE for BUILDINGS CONNECTED to PUBLIC SEWER
- GUIDE for BUILDINGS PRE-DATING SEWER INSTALLATION
- GUIDE for BUILDINGS CONNECTED to PRIVATE SEPTIC
- WHAT TO DO IF NO ONE KNOWS - if the connection is to sewer or septic
- SEPTIC VIDEOS show how to walk the site for possible septic tank & drainfield locations
- SEWER / SEPTIC PIPE CAMERAS shows how to use a video inspection camera in the sewer or drain line to find its destination
Suggested citation for this web page
GUIDE for BUILDINGS CONNECTED to PUBLIC SEWER at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- New York State Department of Health, APPENDIX 75-A WASTEWATER TREATMENT STANDARDS - INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD SYSTEMS , [PDF] New York State Department of Health, 3 February 2010, retrieved 3/1/2010, original source: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/nycrr/title_10/part_75/appendix_75-a.htm
- SEPTIC TANK/SOIL-ABSORPTION SYSTEMS: HOW TO OPERATE & MAINTAIN [PDF] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf.
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
- Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)
- Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies, Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389 (2006). Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives. Written for designers and engineers, this book is not at all easy going for homeowners but is a text I recommend for professionals--DF.
- Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP; Quoting from Amazon's description: For the homebuilder, one mistake in estimating or installing wells and septic systems can cost thousands of dollars. This comprehensive guide filled with case studies can prevent that. Master plumber R. Dodge Woodson packs this reader-friendly guide with guidance and information, including details on new techniques and materials that can economize and expedite jobs and advice on how to avoid mistakes in both estimating and construction. Chapters cover virtually every aspect of wells and septic systems, including on-site evaluations; site limitations; bidding; soil studies, septic designs, and code-related issues; drilled and dug wells, gravel and pipe, chamber-type, and gravity septic systems; pump stations; common problems with well installation; and remedies for poor septic situations. Woodson also discusses ways to increase profits by avoiding cost overruns.
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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