Wells, septic, and what to check before you buy in Saint Clair County

In the cities along the river, most homes are on municipal water and sewer. But out in St. Clair County’s townships, a lot of houses run on a private well for drinking water and a septic system for waste. That’s a normal part of country living here, but it changes the homework you do before buying.

Here’s the Michigan wrinkle: Michigan has no single statewide code for residential septic systems. The rules are set locally, and in St. Clair County they’re handled by the county health department, which issues the permits for new and replacement wells and septic systems and keeps records on file.

Unlike some northern Michigan counties, St. Clair doesn’t require an automatic septic inspection when a house is sold. (Some Michigan counties do: neighboring Macomb County, for one, has required a well and septic evaluation before closing since 2002.) That makes it buyer beware: before you sign, it’s smart to hire someone to locate and inspect the septic tank and drainfield, test the well water, and make sure the system is sized for the house. A few hundred dollars up front can spare you a very expensive surprise later. The county health department can tell you what’s on record for a given property.