How to locate sewer/water lines?

[Tik-Tok]

I just filled out the "Call before you dig" shit online, and then after the submission, a screen pops up saying that they don't mark water and sewer lines

I'm just trying to figure out if the sewer runs under my garage or not. There's one advertiser on kijiji for locating sewage lines, but they can't even spell in English, and they're BBB rating has 40 complaints against them, lol.

Anyone know how I go about this?

[Ven]

311 can give you a list of locators for hire. We use Consolidated. If you can wait a few days and send my your address I can get you the utility schematic for your house.

[Jetta-2.0]

sewer/water lines dont run under your house or garage, iv been working construction for 9 years now and I have never seen that done

edit: not the main lines that is lol

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by Ven
311 can give you a list of locators for hire. We use Consolidated. If you can wait a few days and send my your address I can get you the utility schematic for your house.

Awesome, pm'd

Originally posted by Jetta-2.0
sewer/water lines dont run under your house or garage, iv been working construction for 9 years now and I have never seen that done

edit: not the main lines that is lol

It's a 50's house (before the bylaw that said you can't do that), and the garage is 36' wide on a 45' lot. The straightest line between the vertical sewage line in my house, and the main line in the alleyway, is right under it. I'm HOPING it isn't, but I want to know for sure.

[90_Shelby]

Where is your water meter? Does it come in at the front or the back of your house? This will answer your question as to where your water and sewer are run from.

[Tik-Tok]

In the basement, at the back of the house.

[adidas]

Originally posted by Jetta-2.0
sewer/water lines dont run under your house or garage, iv been working construction for 9 years now and I have never seen that done

edit: not the main lines that is lol

LOL, so what u are saying is that your main pipes come directly through the side of the foundation wall? I never knew taking a dump in the basement of ur home would somehow magically force it to go against gravity into the main city pipes.

So much for ur 9 years of construction exp.

[Tik-Tok]

I should clarify, it's a detached, alleyway garage. In fact, if I draw a straight line between the house sewer pipe (inside), and the alleyway, there's no way it isn't going under. Unless they planned for it, and made a few angles in the pipe, so it runs under the gravel RV parking that's beside the garage (doubtful).

[dr_jared88]

As stated it shouldn't run under the garage. I've only seen it done once in all the houses i've seen but if you want to know where it runs, locate your front cleanout. It should be straight out of your house from there, most likely towards the street. Also if you know where your outside water shut off is, that would be the same trench.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by dr_jared88
As stated it shouldn't run under the garage. I've only seen it done once in all the houses i've seen but if you want to know where it runs, locate your front cleanout. It should be straight out of your house from there, most likely towards the street. Also if you know where your outside water shut off is, that would be the same trench.

I believe it's in the alley, as my old neighbor had to get his replaced several years ago, and he said they had to dig up half his back yard to do it. Also there's no sewer covers in the cul-de-sac out front, but there is in the alleyway. The house and garage were built before the laws stated you can't build over a sewage line.

Hopefully Ven can help me out with this.

edit: if anyone is wondering why I care, it's because I'm considering an above garage suite, and want to make sure it's legally possible before I start the paperwork. If I'd have to rebuild my garage, or move the sewer line to make it conform to today's standards, it wouldn't be worth it.

[90_Shelby]

Originally posted by 90_Shelby
Where is your water meter? Does it come in at the front or the back of your house? This will answer your question as to where your water and sewer are run from.

Originally posted by Tik-Tok
In the basement, at the back of the house.

If it's at the back of the house then your sewer and water lines will go straight out the back into the alley. (As it seems you have determined.)

[PGTze]

There is a lot of very poor information here lol.

Here's how this works, the city owns water and sewer lines on public property, the homeowner owns anything on their property. When you call 1 Call there is a screening process that takes place, only utilities deemed to be on your property will be notified. Since your water valve is not technically considered to be on your property CofC (water and sewer) will be "screened out". When you call specifically state your purpose for excavation is to find your water service valve, then the locating company should come do this for you.

From the water valve your water and sewer likely run straight in to your house (path of least resistance), and are buried 10~ ft deep right next to each other. This will at least give you an idea of what you're dealing with, if it becomes essential to pinpoint the location of these lines hiring a private locating company is an option, but is quite expensive.

PM me if you need any more help.