Property owners need to know how to locate buried septic tanks or underground septic drainfield pipes. What is the best method to locate a septic tank or septic drainfield? Ground penetrating radar is the best method for detecting and locating underground septic tanks and buried septic drainfield pipe lines.
GeoModel, Inc. has over 25 years of experience locating underground septic tanks and septic drainfields nationwide. GeoModel, Inc.’s professional septic tank and septic drainfield detection experts use only the latest equipment and methods to locate underground septic and drainfield systems.
These septic tank and septic drainfield location methods include ground penetrating radar (GPR) and frequency location (to detect any buried electrical power lines associated with the drainfield system). GeoModel, Inc. professionals are experts at detecting septic tanks and septic drainfield pipes.
To locate and detect a septic drainfield, GeoModel, Inc. conducts a GPR survey. The GPR system is moved over the ground in parallel directions (transect lines) perpendicular to the drainfield pipes. When the GeoModel, Inc. GPR professional observes the drainfield pipe in the GPR image, the location of the pipe is marked on the ground with a survey flag or paint mark. An image of the ground penetrating radar (GPR) cart, in the process of locating septic drainfield lines, is seen below:
How to Detect a Septic Drainfield using GPR
Ground penetrating radar can usually easily detect underground septic tanks and drainfield pipes because both are usually buried with their tops only one or two feet below the ground surface. GPR can locate plastic or PVC drainfield pipe and other types of nonconductive pipe such as concrete and terra cotta septic drainfield pipe, especially in optimum soils.
How does GPR detect septic drainfield lines? GPR yields an underground cross-sectional image of the septic drainfield pipes so that the drainfield pipe locations can be mapped. An example GPR profile from an underground septic drainfield location survey is seen below. Ideally, the drainfield pipes appear as upside-down U-shapes (parabolas). Also, in optimal soil conditions, the depth and size of the buried septic tank or septic drainfield pipes can be determined. The drainfield pipes in the example below are about 1 to 1.5 feet below the ground surface.
GPR profile showing how to detect and locate underground septic drainfield pipes.
Frequency locators are also used by GeoModel, Inc. to locate underground electric cables associated with septic drainfield systems. A specific frequency is applied to a buried power cable by employing a frequency transmitter. This transmitted frequency can be traced for considerable distances across a site to locate underground electrical drainfield power cables and mark them in the field.
GeoModel, Inc. has located numerous septic tanks and septic drainfield pipe systems nationwide using ground penetrating radar. Below are images showing the location of a buried septic tank, detected by GPR, marked out with orange paint. and also the same area after the septic tank has been exposed. This example shows how a septic tank is detected and located using ground penetrating radar (GPR).
Contact GeoModel, Inc. today for our underground septic tank and septic drainfield location services at your property or facility.