Drawing the map
- Outline the lot.Sketch the house, driveway, walkways, sidewalk, parkway strip and curb. It does not need to be to scale.
- Mark the cleanout.Put an X where the sewer cleanout is. If there is none, note that.
- Draw the route.Draw the lateral from the house toward the street. Use a camera locate mark if a plumber has made one; otherwise draw a dashed best guess.
- Add trees and large shrubs.Circle each tree near the route and note whether it is in your yard or the parkway.
- Mark known problems.Add the distances from your camera worksheet: roots, cracks, past repairs.
What to include
- House outline with the side where the sewer exits.
- Cleanout location, or a note that none exists.
- Lateral route, solid where confirmed, dashed where guessed.
- Trees and large shrubs with rough trunk positions.
- Driveway, patios and hardscape over the route.
- Main water shutoff and the gas meter, labeled so no one confuses them with sewer fittings.
- Dates and locations of any past repairs.
Map legend
- X
- Sewer cleanout
- Solid line
- Confirmed lateral route
- Dashed line
- Estimated route
- Circle
- Tree; P if in the parkway
- R with distance
- Root intrusion found on camera
- Box
- Past repair section
Why it pays off
Plumbers new to your home can find the cleanout and understand the line in minutes instead of searching. Landscapers can keep new trees away from the route. If you ever need a spot repair, the map and camera distances together give a good starting point for where the problem lies.
Keep the map with your sewer records and update it after every camera inspection or repair. A phone photo of the drawing is easy to share.
Questions the map can answer
- Which tree is closest to the root intrusion found on camera?
- Is the problem area under lawn, concrete or the parkway?
- Where should new trees go to stay clear of the line?
Common questions
How do I find where my sewer line runs?
A plumber with a locatable camera can mark the route on the ground. Without that, the line usually heads from the cleanout toward the street, but only a locate confirms it.
Do I need the map to be to scale?
No. A clear, labeled sketch with distances from the camera report is enough for most uses.
Should I mark parkway trees differently?
Yes. Parkway trees may be the city's responsibility, so check with the City of Fullerton before any work near them.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.