Thread: Finding buried utilities

The general reason why "X" (where "X" is your choice of divining, faeries, guardian angels or whatever) "works" is that people are not objective data recording devices - people cherry pick their memories.

You remember the successes, but dont count the failures. All those times that you had to spend half an hour or more looking around the house for your car keys, wallet, bradawl, No. 2 phillips head screw driver, router bit spanner, table saw....all those experiences - since you had a hard time finding the object - were nothing special and they dont tend to stay in your memory.

But finding an "unfindable" object against the odds is a memory that will stick out in your mind. Over a period of time, you'll be able remember a number of these special events, and bingo - instant special power, divine guidance or luck of the Irish.

Originally Posted by outback

Divining is all witchcraft, smoke and mirrors. Grow up and smell the roses people. How the hell can all this happen. It can't. End of story.

Onlt to add, why the hell does it work for me?

1. You are a witch. :confused:
2. You are a smoke. (Or something it got out of. )
3. You are a mirror. (I've seen some fairly ordinary looking mirrors. )
4. You haven't grown up yet.
5. You don't know what a rose smells like.


The wires crossed for me too but I was too lazy to dig to see what was under the ground.

If you believe you can do it, then why not go for the million? What have you got to lose? I'm even tempted to have a go, you never know, I might get lucky

I've seen it work, I've seen it not work.

I don't care, so long as it works if I need it. Lots of better ways of finding things though - usually expensive.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

1. You are a witch. :confused:
2. You are a smoke. (Or something it got out of. )
3. You are a mirror. (I've seen some fairly ordinary looking mirrors. )
4. You haven't grown up yet.
5. You don't know what a rose smells like.


The wires crossed for me too but I was too lazy to dig to see what was under the ground.

1. No, but my wifes reckons I can do some magic. :eek:
2. No, see answer 1.
3. I certainly reflect peoples attitude towards me.
4. No way.
5. Yes I do, particularly after a big feed of baked beans.



Your serve.

Hey Crom, you're on the wrong track. The Water Corporation has the plans for your sewer, not the local council. They will have what they call a "flimsy" which is a plan of the sewerage lodged by the original plumber. I think there is a small charge for it.
regards, Lionel.

Hey Big O,

I got the plans for $11. Not much better than the dial before you dig ones. They show that the connecting sewer runs into the mains. But there are no measurements from boundaries, fences etc.

Telstra can't even tell us where to start looking, but yet they hold us responsible for the cable:eek:

See the above post from Macca2. The main sewer line should run parallel to your back fence. As Macca states, there will be a final inspection point that consists of a vertical pipe from your sewer pipe to the surface (in may be difficult to find if you have a build up of mulch, leaves etc). Once you have located the inspection pipe, run a string line back to your house. Dig a cross trench until you find your sewer line.

I live in a house built in the 1930’s two suburbs from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<st1ity>Perth</st1ity>’s CBD– the sewer line was only about 1.5 metres deep. I understand that under current regulations, domestic sewer lines don’t have to be that deep.

This thread started in August, so I hope Crom has finished his project by now. For anybody else, consider:

Underground pipe is usually straight, otherwise at significant bends of any pipe, a cleanout is needed. In street sewers, pipes are generally straight between manholes. So, if you can identify two ends, e.g. inspection point and exit from your house, a string line should give you a good indication of where to search.

I distinctly remember back in 4th or 5th grade, Sister Mary Whatever told us, "If you don't learn this stuff, you could wind up as a ditchdigger." So, I learned that stuff. Then I went to high school, and learned more stuff. Then I went to college and learned more stuff. Then I went to work and learned still more stuff. Finally I retired a couple years ago, and seriously worked on my house. Recently I built a retaining wall with a drain pipe. Damned if I didn't wind up as a ditchdigger anyway.

Joe