Locating your sewer service
From time to time, homeowners will need to locate where their sewer pipes and other utilities route underneath their properties. Whether you are digging to find a plugged sewer pipe, planting a tree, or building a fence, it is important to know where all the pipes run. Damaging underground pipes can be costly and dangerous.
Before you dig – Call BC One Call: 1-800-474-6886 or *6886 with cell phone to ensure gas line and other utility information is on hand.
Where are my sewer connections located?
Engineering keeps records of connection information for most homes. You can contact a citizen service representative at 3-1-1 and request the sewer connection information for your property. Generally, there are no records of piping plans on private property but if available, the City’s records will provide information for the homeowner to use to deduce where the services may run on private property.
If you are trying to locate your sewer connection and your home was constructed after 1930, chances are Sewers will have a record of where the City and private portions of the pipe meet at the property-line. The standard depth of sewer connections is approximately 1.5 metres or 5 feet at the property-line. However, connection depth can often fluctuate.
How do I locate the property-line or front boundary to my lot?
The best way to be sure of your property line is to consult with a surveyor. However, homeowners can get a rough idea as to where their property and the City property meet near the street. This is useful information to have when excavating near the property-line. To locate an aerial photo of your property, go to VanMap.
What is a sump and where would I find it?
A sump is primarily used for the collection of rainwater that flows from the gutters and drain-tiles and controls the level of water by sending it to the sewer main. Typically, sumps are concrete chambers, either cylindrical or square in shape, and can be located inside or outside of the home. In some older homes, sumps were not installed and the flow of water percolates directly to a rock pit or the ground.