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We're putting utility services (water, electrical, sewer, telco) in trenches to and on my land.

Before we bury everything, what records should I make? Maybe I should take some photographs or draw some maps. (Accurate mapping is difficult, though!)

EDIT: I learned today that the utility company is only responsible for the stuff in they ground that they own. If you have a sub-panel for electricity to a garage, for example, they won't mark that. Same for a water line to a spigot in your garden. So, it's particularly important to keep your own records, etc.

ALSO: Even though code doesn't require it here, I'm going to put a strip of CAUTION tape a few inches under the soil as we fill in the trench.

Community
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Jay Bazuzi
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3 Answers3

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There are several things you can do:

  • Pictures, with clear reference points (eg, natural features of the land such as rock cuts, streams, as well as man-made structures).

  • Drawings using graph paper, and with GPS marking locations

  • For non-metallic water pipes (anything without a metal wire in it), bury a metal wire alongside (really, any kind of continuous wire will do). This will allow you to use an inductive cable locater to trace that line later. There are also some newer RFID-based tags you can get that specifically indicate types of cable/pipe (power, water, waste, gas, telephone, etc), and can be read by a special receiver.

Inductive cable locator:

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gregmac
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I would at least take some pictures. Make sure to get some landmarks that will likely be around for a while, so someone else can orient the pictures, if needed.

Another possibility is to get GPS readings of the locations of the tracks. If you have, or know someone who has, an Android phone, the My Tracks app will record a GPS track, upload it to Google Maps, and show it laid on top of their imagery. There is probably something similar for iPhones.

KeithB
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If you could map it out on graph paper, that would be a good start. Try to be as accurate as you can - you want to think about trying to read and use this later.

What this map will do is tell you where you need to "Hand-dig" if you are digging up the area in the future.

There also might be an organization that is setup the local utility companies that keeps track of these things. In Virginia, it's called "Miss Utility", and if you give them 48 hours notice, they will come out and mark your property of where the utility lines are for free. The utility companies save money by doing this, because it helps them prevent costly repairs. In Virginia, in fact. its the law that you have to call before you dig. The consortium like this in your locale may be interested to find out what was buried where before you cover it up.

trip0d199
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