Expert: Stephen Major (Owner--Major Design Group) - 6/12/2007

Question
Steve

Hi, I'm not certain if you can help me,  but is there any simple way to locate a cesspool.  I have an idea where mine is and I used a steel rod to locate it, but no luck -

please help

thanks

Ken

Answer
Ken,

In some instances your local health department may have records of the locations of cesspools and septic systems.  It might be worth contacting them.  

If you can tell where the main sewer pipe exits the house -- it may be visible in the basement, if you have a basement, or an outside standpipe vent coming out of the ground may indicate its location -- then you can usually assume that the cesspool is straight out from such an exit point.  How far is variable.  It could also be buried quite deep, so the rod may not work.

If you really need to know, contact a local geoscience contractor that has ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment.  They should be able to easily locate it, but at a cost, of course.

Let me know if you have additional questions, and best of luck.

--Steve Major