Eric Tonks wrote:

You know where the tank is located, so the leach field will be on the far
side of the tank from the house. You know where the garage would be built. I
would start hand digging a line where the footing would be installed on the
side closest to the septic tank. You only need a shovel width or a little
more. Dig down along that line down about a couple of feet lower than the
outlet of your tank. Look for gravel, dark coloured (and smelly) liquid, and
see if you cross or parallel any clay tile pipes where you want to build. If
you locate nothing you should be good to go. If you hit something it will
help you to get a handle on where the drainage pipes run. 50 years ago
septic tanks were quite small compared to today's requirements and so were
the drainage beds, you might be in the clear.



Where I live, the requirements are 100 feet per bedroom. Seems odd that
the number of bedrooms is the basis for the length of leech fields, but
in any case, I have 3 bedrooms which would require 300 feet. I had 400
feet installed. I also have a separate dry well for 'grey water',
Kitchen sink and dishwasher.

"Don Wallace" wrote in message
.. .


Hi,

My wife and I are considering construction of a two car detached
garage in our backyard. Our septic system is also in the backyard. I
*THINK* the new garage could be located such that it would not
interfere with the septic system. I think.

Our lot is only 1/2 acre and the way the lot lines are located and the
way the house is situated, there is only one reasonable place to
locate the garage, which puts it at least on the border of the septic
field.

The house is old construction, 50 years old, and has the original
septic system (which was pronounced in good shape by the guys who
pumped it out last spring.) So my guess is that maps, plans, etc as
well as the original plumber or septic company are loooong since gone.

Last thing I want to do is to trash out the leach field by
construction so that we are in for another $7-$8K in redoing the
septic system.

I checked out some old NG articles via Google. The best DIY technique
seemed to be this one:




http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...news.aol .com


Another guy in this thread suggested flushing barium enema down the
toilet and using a geiger counter to find the lines, but somehow, I
don't think I want to deal with Homeland Security's guys on this one.
(LOL)

Now, do septic construction or maintenance companies have other, more
reliable tools for doing this?

Thanks much.

- Don