Well and septic in rural Iosco County

Once you’re outside Tawas City, East Tawas, and Whittemore, most homes run on a private well and a septic system. There’s no municipal water or sewer out in the townships, which is normal for this part of Michigan — but it’s worth understanding before you buy.

Michigan is the only state with no statewide septic code, so the rules are set locally. In Iosco County that’s District Health Department No. 2, which has an office in Tawas City and issues the permits for new and replacement septic systems and wells. Iosco does not require a point-of-sale septic inspection — there’s no county rule forcing 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.

On rural property here, 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 down the road. A passing soil test (a “perc test”) is also part of building on a vacant lot. (Heads up: a statewide septic-inspection bill has been floated in Lansing for years; if it ever passes, the rules here could change.)