Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of externally sealing underground sewage system joints against entry of ground water to the system and which requires placing a continuous elastomeric band about a first one of the joint elements prior to its interconnection with the adjacent joint element, then interconnecting the adjacent element to said first element, and thereafter positioning the elastomeric band so that it substantially equally overlies the joint between said first and second elements with one-half of the band width overlying each element.