How to I find the location of my septic bed?

Locating your septic bed involves a combination of outdoor observations, consulting records, and sometimes professional assistance. Follow these steps to identify your system’s components accurately and safely.

Locating the Septic Bed

Look for Visual Clues in the Yard:

Search for flat areas with minimal trees or heavy landscaping.

Raised sand beds appear as bumps, while in-ground beds may show thicker, greener grass due to nutrient enrichment.

Older drain fields may exhibit parallel stripes or depressions.

Examples of septic beds in the ground:

With advanced treatment sand septic beds can be installed in many challenging locations – Bionest – Ancaster
Tracer wire should be installed on leaching chamber septic beds so that they can be located in the future – Infiltrator – Waterdown
The sand mantle of a septic bed can worked into the surrounding grades – Dundas
Spreading topsoil over a leaching chamber septic bed with a trim dozer – Infiltrator – Hamilton
Shallow buried trench septic leaching beds should have an inspection port at the end of each run for flushing and to verify pressure – Waterloo Biofilter – Burlington
Shallow buried trench septic bed and advanced treatment technology provide a permanent solution for an urban septic bed – Burlington
Septic leaching chambers can be used to make a septic bed on some hills – Infiltrator – Cambridge
Septic leaching chambers can be installed in place of traditional pipe and gravel septic beds – Burlington
Septic bed made with leching chambers ready for topsoil cover – Millgrove
Plastic septic tanks may be used on hills or in other places where access is difficult – Roth Multitank – Milton
Placing topsoil over a sand mound septic system with advanced treatment on a beautiful day – Bionest – Stoney Creek
Leaching chambers can be a versatile solution septic bed solution – Infiltrator – Ancaster
In some soil conditions septic leaching chambers may be installed without advanced septic treatment technology – Millgrove
In leaching chamber septic beds the header should be properly supported and tracer wire should be installed – Infiltrator – Hamilton
Gravity fed infiltrator chamber leaching bed with good sandy soils and header shown – Burlington
Cross section of a type A dispersal bed or area bed septic bed with advanced treatment technology – Dundas
Advanced treatment makes a smaller septic bed leaving room for the pool – Bionest – Burlington
Advanced septic treatment with time-dosing and a shallow buried trench leaching bed produces the smallest possible septic bed – Norweco – Burlington

Specialized Equipment:

If you cannot locate the bed visually or through records, hire a professional equipped with locating devices and sewer cameras.

Additional Research

Property Records: Review blueprints, building permits, and other documents for septic system details.

Municipality Records: Your local municipality may have historical records or building permits that provide helpful information.

Ask Neighbors: Long-time residents in your area may know the general location of your septic system.

Locating your septic system is critical for maintenance and compliance with Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code, which regulates on-site sewage systems. If you’re unable to locate your system or require assistance, contact a professional to ensure proper handling and servicing.