Brock - Are you working with a buyer's agent to help you purchase the property? A buyer's agent can help answer these questions for you, and help represent you in purchasing the property. I've worked with buyer's on foreclosures in Johnston County, and they can have surprises come up at the last second that a buyer's agent can help you sort thru, such as the question about the septic system.

The health dept may have the records you need, depending on the age of the property, sometimes the records get lost :( If they can't answer your question, it's worth the money to have a septic company inspect the system to determine if it is functioning properly, and if it needs cleaning. If i can be a further help, you can reach me thru my website http://www.tri4sale.com.

Daniel

Contact the local health department. They should have a copy of the original permit on file. This should show the type and location of the system.

There should be away to remove the "lid" and determine if there is a contractor label who installed it. In some instances that works. When was the home built? If so new you might be able to locate in tax rolls the builder for the property who could still have the records.
http://www.lynn911.com http://www.homes-for-sale-dallas.com

Go to your county offices and request the asbuilt and any other records they may have. The asbuilt shows exactly where the designer intended for the tank(s) to be as well as the drainfield and the type of system it is. If it's difficult for you to decipher, call a Drainfield designer to help interpret and answer any questions you may have. Also, I highly recommend having a septic inspection and possibly have it serviced/ pumped before buying as having to replace a failing system can be quite costly! You wouldn't buy a house without having it inspected would you? The same goes for the septic sysytem. Hope that helps!

I'm not sure about Johnston County, but in my area, the county helath dept has the information on record. You can start there and if not, someone can probably direct you to the proper dept. Hope this helps.