Septic Tank Locating in Lehigh Acres, FL

Why it happens

Why so many septic lids are hard to find

Septic tank lids are usually left below ground. Over the years they get covered by sod, mulch, pavers, a new patio or just soil washing over them. If the house has changed hands, nobody may remember where the tank is, and many owners only go looking when something goes wrong.

Finding the tank matters for more than the next pump-out. You need to know where it is so you don't park on it, plant trees over it, or build over it.

Septic tank location records to check before you call

• Your home inspection report from when you bought the house. It may include a septic section with a sketch.
• Old pump-out receipts. Some companies note where the lid is.
• The original septic permit. Septic permits in Florida, which often include a site sketch showing where the tank is, are issued by each county's health department. For Lehigh Acres, ask the Florida Department of Health in Lee County for your property's septic records. The Florida DEP Onsite Sewage Program explains how state permitting works.
• The previous owner or neighbors. In neighborhoods built at the same time, tanks are often in similar spots.

Clues you can look for yourself

• Find where the main sewer line leaves the house, often near a bathroom, sometimes with a cleanout pipe sticking up. The tank is usually in that direction.
• Look for a rectangle of grass that dries out or stays greener than the rest of the lawn.
• Check for a slight dip or rise in the ground, or a small round or square cover at ground level.

Please don't dig blindly around the yard. Irrigation lines, electrical and gas lines can be in the same area. Call 811 before any digging of your own.