Well and septic in Emmet County

Outside Petoskey and Harbor Springs, most of Emmet County is rural, lakefront, or shoreline, and homes here usually rely on a private well and a septic system. If you’re buying in one of the townships, plan on that.

Michigan is the only state without a statewide septic code, so the rules are set locally. Emmet County is served by the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, which has an office in Harbor Springs and issues the permits for new and replacement wells and septic systems. Right now, no township or city in Emmet County requires an automatic septic inspection when a property sells — it’s “buyer beware.” So getting one is on you, and it’s worth it: the groups that watch over Little Traverse Bay, Walloon Lake, and the area’s other waters care a great deal about leaky systems, and a failed septic can be expensive to replace. Always make your offer contingent on a septic inspection and a well water test.

On a rural or waterfront property, check the age and type of the septic system, where the drainfield sits, the well depth and water quality, and whether there’s room for a replacement drainfield. Lakefront and bayfront systems deserve a close look. A passing soil test (a “perc test”) is part of building on a vacant lot. (Worth knowing: a statewide septic-inspection law has been floated in Lansing for years; if it ever passes, the rules here could change.)