Well and septic in rural Alcona County

Harrisville is the only city in Alcona County. Leave it and you’re into woods, inland lakes, and Lake Huron shoreline. Out there, nearly every home runs on a private well and a septic system. There’s no municipal water or sewer in the townships. That’s normal up here, but worth understanding before you buy.

Michigan has no single statewide code for residential septic systems, so the rules are set locally. In Alcona County that’s District Health Department No. 2. It has an office in Harrisville. It issues the permits for new and replacement septic systems and wells. Alcona does not require a point-of-sale septic inspection. No county rule forces an inspection just because a property changes hands. That leaves it to you, the buyer. So it’s smart to make any offer contingent on a septic inspection and a well water test, even when one isn’t required.

A big share of Alcona’s homes are seasonal cottages near Hubbard Lake or along the Lake Huron shore. An old lakeside septic sitting close to the water is exactly the kind you want eyes on before you buy. On any rural property, check a few things. Look at the age and type of the septic system, and where the drainfield sits. Check the well depth and water quality. And ask whether there’s room for a replacement drainfield. A passing soil test (a “perc test”) is part of building on a vacant lot. (Heads up: a statewide septic-inspection bill has been floated in Lansing for years; if it passes, the rules here could change.)