Before the pump-out
How to find your septic tank
Knowing where your tank is saves time on every pump-out and inspection, and often money. Here’s how to find it on a Port Orchard or Kitsap County property.
Start with your record drawing
Many Kitsap properties have a record drawing, sometimes called an as-built, on file with Kitsap Public Health. It shows where the tank and drainfield are, and it often lists the tank size.
Search the Health District’s online wells and septic records, or call them at 360-728-2235. The same records show how many bedrooms your system is approved for.
No drawing on file? The clues below usually lead you to it, and a septic company can find it if they don’t.
Look for clues in the yard
- Follow the sewer line. Find where the main drain leaves the house, usually at a cleanout in the crawlspace or basement. The tank is usually in line with it.
- Measure out from the foundation. Current state rules put a tank at least 5 feet from the foundation and a drainfield at least 10 feet away. Older systems may not match.
- Look for lids. Plastic lids at ground level, often green or black, sit on risers above the tank. A pump chamber has its own lid.
- Check for an alarm panel. A panel on the house or on a post in the yard means there’s a pump chamber to find too.
- Watch the lawn. A flat or sunken rectangle, or a patch where snow melts first, can sit over the tank.
- Probe gently. A thin metal rod pushed into the soil will stop on a concrete lid. Go slowly, since pipes and wires can be shallow.
Call 811 before you dig
Washington law requires anyone digging to call 811 at least two business days ahead, so buried utility lines get marked. The call is free.
A septic company can also find the tank for you, sometimes with an electronic locator or a camera sent down the line. That’s usually an added fee, and some companies charge less if the lids are already uncovered when they arrive.
How big is my tank?
Your record drawing should say. Under current state rules, a house with up to four bedrooms needs a tank of at least 1,000 gallons, plus 250 gallons for each bedroom beyond four. Older systems can be smaller.
If your lids are buried, ask the septic company about risers. A riser brings the lid up to ground level, so the next pump-out doesn’t need digging. What pumping costs
Sources: Kitsap Public Health District, WAC 246-272A-0210 (setbacks), WAC 246-272A-0232 (tank size), Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (811).
Found it, or need help finding it?
Call to reach a septic company serving South Kitsap.