Inspection Guide for Buildings Connected to a Public Sewer Line InspectAPedia® -
What tests & inspections should I have performed if buying a home connected to a public sewer line?
Even for homes connected to a public sewer, there are some checks that buyers and their home inspectors should perform on the building's waste disposal system.
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This article explains what inspections and tests should be performed after we have determined that a building is actually connected to the public sewer system. In the previous sections of this article on determining if a building is connected to a public sewer or to a private septic tank and drainfield, we explained how to find out if public sewer service is even available on a given street and we gave clues for finding out if a particular building has been connected to the sewer mains.
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When a Building is Probably Connected to Sewer What Should be Checked?
Sewer Connection Inspection Guide for Buildings Built After Sewer System Installation
Action guide when buying a building where a Sewer System is present and the building is the same age or newer than the public sewer system
The building is probably connected to the sewer: one would expect that a building that was constructed after a local sewer system was installed on its street would be connected to that system. To do otherwise would be costly and unusual.
You should be able to confirm this connection with your municipal building department.
Inspect the drain system: After confirming that everyone asserts that the home is connected to the sewer line, your home inspector should still test the building drainage system for evidence of leaks or blockage.
The inspector may also check for the presence of a main trap or house trap where the waste line leaves the building.
Remember that usually the sewer line between the building and the sewer main is owned by and is the responsibility of the property owner.
If the sewer line is old, damaged, or clogged, its repair will probably be at the expense of the owner.
Check the tax bills to see if there is an assessment for sewer costs; check construction records to confirm when and how the building was connected to the sewer system.
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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
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Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and
Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by
Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)
InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.
The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.
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