Is there a place on-line where I could see a plan of my sewage system?

[Craftypig]

My soil stack goes underground in the side street of my property, there is no sign of an inspection chamber or manhole in the street. My back garden is covered with pebbles I would like to know if there is a man-hole cover or inspection chamber under it all before I start moving ton's of pebbles.

[woofgang]

could you find it by renting a metal detector?

[jackthehat]

Can you see your neighbours MHC's ?
They will give you some sort of idea of the position of your 'run'.

[The Builder]

Crafty .......... local water companies keep Sewer Maps that should tell you what's in the street, but not on your own property.
If the house is modern(ish), or if the drains have been laid under Building Control supervision, then local Planning Dept would have construction details and plans (possibly).
You need to know a little "history" of the house.
If it's a terrace, or semis, then, as Jack says, next door usually gives you a good idea.

[Craftypig]

My house is at the end of a 4 house terrace, the soil stacks of the adjoining house's just go into the ground in their back gardens. I have looked in their gardens but their are no man-hole covers there either.

[The Builder]

Sounds like you might have a shared drain running through the gardens along the back of the terrace.......... only a guess. Not an ideal arrangement if there's no access.
What did you want to do Crafty?

[Craftypig]

Ideally I would like to unblock the system myself I have tried pouring a bucket full of water down the toilet a few times but it hasn't helped. I got a couple of quotes from some plumbers and to be honest I nearly fell off of the floor. If the sewer runs through the back gardens hopefully the inspection cover will be in our back garden but as it is completely covered with pebbles (why do people use those damn things) it might be a big job to find it. My plan is to ring the waterboard and see if they can tell me where the man hole is. I'm 100% sure that the problem is those face wipes thingys, the other half flushed some down the toilet recently and I think its those that are causing the problem. I told her a thousand times that they are not bio-degradable but i might aswell bang my head against a brickwall.

[The Builder]

My sympathies Crafty ............... wipes, J-cloths, and disposable nappies are the usual suspects.
Nothing else for it but to go manhole hunting.
I usually get someone to "divine" for water/drains/electric ............ with a bent piece of coat-hanger ............ honestly!
Also, check with a Hire Co. to see if they have a CAT Drain Tracer you can rent.

[heathfield]

Glad you had the courage to mention divining, Builder. I was going to advise it, but was fearful of generating the usual storm of controversy!! Nice to know there's someone else who makes use of it, knowing that it works!! Oops, what have I said? ;-)

[The Builder]

Actually, Heathfield, I nearly didn't mention it for that reason lol
In a country area where I am, it seems lots of people can do it. Usually farmers. If anyone's having a chuckle over this, I can tell them it's nothing out of the ordinary. I've tried it plenty of times myself, but ...... nothing.
One of the many times I've used it, was to find an alkathene pipe water connection buried "somewhere" under a whole farmyard of concrete. The digger driver pinpointed it to within a couple of inches :o)

[heathfield]

'Nuff said !!