How do I make a map of private underground utilities?

[reader2580]

I recently had a private locator out to mark some private underground utilities on my property. I only had a general idea of where they are and needed a more exact path to avoid hitting them. I am also adding another underground electric line this weekend.

How do I create some sort of map or something for the future so I know where the lines are without calling in a locator again? For two of the lines I am considering driving large 6" long spikes in the ground above the line that I can find with a metal detector. (I know the lines are 18" deep so spikes would not hit the lines.)

 

[Toomanytools?]

Well just like when you were a kid draw up a treasure map. Pick land marks that won't move like the house or a fence. Draw it on a piece of graph paper1/4"=1' or similar, draw a dotted line for underground electric label it. Measure for example house to powerline 2 feet / 18" deep.

 

[nadogail]

Try to remember your Boy Scout map making lessons.

 

[loganb]

And remember that locate flags are not exact. Most states have +/- 18" on each side of the locate line for the utility location. So they're good guidelines, but far from exact which is why even once located if in the area it's still good practice to dig those by hand.

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[Don1357]

If you don't have one get a copy of your plot survey, they should have given you one when you closed on the house. Scan it, then you can edit it on your compute to your heart's content.

 

[Ing3018]

Here's what I did for gas, cable, power, etc. I used two points that are not going to move. In the front, I used the two corners of my porch. Then, using two 100' measuring tapes at the same time, I recorded the two lengths between a certain point and the two references. A map with a sketch of the these features and the two measurements is in my house records. I can easily come back to the same point in the future.
I recorded the locations of my sprinkler heads the same way.
You can recover your previous position with good precision easily this way.

 

[rok_hunter]

Well just like when you were a kid draw up a treasure map. Pick land marks that won't move like the house or a fence. Draw it on a piece of graph paper1/4"=1' or similar, draw a dotted line for underground electric label it. Measure for example house to powerline 2 feet / 18" deep.

Exactly what I did, measured every 15' for distance and laterally from the property line, and drew it up on some draft paper.

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[TommyK]

Usually the locating service will do that for you for an additional fee.

 

[jbwilkins]

And remember that locate flags are not exact. Most states have +/- 18" on each side of the locate line for the utility location. So they're good guidelines, but far from exact which is why even once located if in the area it's still good practice to dig those by hand.

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And I've seen them be off by as much as 2-3'.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Isn’t it free to have them located? Call again if you’re doing any more work in yard

 

[TommyK]

Isn’t it free to have them located? Call again if you’re doing any more work in yard

He hired a private utility mark out company to mark out privately owned underground utilities that do not fall under CBYD jurisdiction.

 

[Cougar]

Also, take pictures.

 

[reader2580]

And I've seen them be off by as much as 2-3'.

I'm pretty sure based on what I already know that the private utilities got marked within 6" or so. I know that the line from the garage goes straight out from where it goes underground. I also know where it enters the house. I just didn't know where it turns 45 degrees and goes toward the house. When I build my new garage I will need to dig up that 45 to extend the line to the new garage. I also thought I was going to have to cross that line for my solar relocation, but that plan has changed

For the line from the house to my septic pump I already knew where the two ends where. I just didn't know if it goes in a straight line or not. The marking of that line was essentially free as it wasn't on my original request, but he did it as long as he was there and it took less than five minutes.

I will either do graph paper, or use a survey I have. My property is three acres so the survey will be harder to use.

 

[Dustball]

Spray lines in hi-vis paint where your utilities are then send a drone up to take aerial photos/videos.

 

[Git]

Two methods come to mind. Triangulation which was already mentioned and the other is using a 'base line'. Base line is only practical if the distances are less than 100' - but basically you lay out a tape measure between two known points and then your mark a point on the tape of what your trying to locate that is 90 degrees out. You then record how far down the tape and then how far 'out' the item is from the base line. Example 64' and right 23'6"

 

[bamawildcat]

Spray lines in hi-vis paint where your utilities are then send a drone up to take aerial photos/videos.

This.

 

[joe_padavano]

I've installed a lot of buried utilities on my farm - water, power, phone. I use stone dust in the trench and I always lay a caution tape about a foot higher than the utility line when I close the trench. If I'm ever digging anywhere near one of these trenches, I always go very slowly until I find that tape.

 

[reader2580]

I've installed a lot of buried utilities on my farm - water, power, phone. I use stone dust in the trench and I always lay a caution tape about a foot higher than the utility line when I close the trench. If I'm ever digging anywhere near one of these trenches, I always go very slowly until I find that tape.

I have that red tape above the line because it is required by code. I didn't really even have a good starting point before I had the line located.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

They make foil backed tape like that for future lines, easy to find with metal detector.
Years ago I had miss utility here. Fellow marked what he was supposed to, I tipped him $20 and he then marked everything. It took him less than an hour, different colors for different things.
I took lots of pictures, then printed standard letter size on paper. I drew in lots of measurements.

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[bugnut]

Dustball has it and prior to drones we took pictures from the roof. A couple yard sticks and a 25 foot tape for scale. Usually close enough.

 

[bushmechanic]

Ok, fine. I'll do it myself.

I personally tend to triangulate my location and work from there. It's not much more complicated than an Etch-A-Sketch once you know where you are and which way you're facing.

Kind of fun, actually.