SewerOwner

When the surface has settled or dipped

A depression, dip, or surface change noticed over part of the property.

SewerOwner cannot assess ground stability, structural safety, or whether an area is safe to walk on. Keep people away from a visibly changing surface and have it looked at.

What this page cannot establish

  • noticing this establishes that you noticed it — it does not establish a cause
  • this page cannot establish the cause of the surface change
  • this page cannot establish that a sewer line is involved
  • this page cannot establish whether the ground is stable
  • this page cannot establish whether any structure is affected

What a professional will be trying to work out

These are the distinctions a professional makes when they attend. They are questions, not conclusions — and knowing them lets you follow the conversation rather than just receive its result.

  • where the change sits relative to known buried services
  • whether it is stable or progressing
  • whether any excavation has happened there previously

What is worth writing down

These details are cheap to record now and impossible to reconstruct later.

  • the location and approximate size
  • dated photographs over time
  • any known prior work in that area

Evidence that would change the next decision

If you are deciding whether something is worth paying for, these are the things that actually move the decision.

  • dated photographs showing whether it is progressing
  • records of prior excavation in that area
  • whether the line’s route has been located

What would change the answer

  • dated photographs showing whether it is progressing
  • records of prior excavation in that area
  • whether the line’s route has been located

What to do next

A surface change is something to have looked at rather than investigated yourself, and dated photographs are what make the visit productive.

Prepare for a professional to look at it

If your situation is different

Related, and why