Out in the township, you're on a well and septic in Lapeer County

Most of Lapeer County outside the cities and villages is rural township land, and out there you’re typically not on municipal water and sewer. Instead a home has its own well for drinking water and a septic system in the yard for waste. That’s completely normal here and works well, but it makes you your own little water utility: a septic system needs pumping every few years, and a well needs occasional testing and the odd repair.

Wells and septic systems in the townships are permitted and inspected by the Lapeer County Health Department, which is the local agency for all of this. Michigan is the only state with no statewide septic code, so the county health department’s rules are what govern. Before you buy a place on a well and septic, it’s smart to have both inspected and to ask the seller for the well and septic records — replacing a failed drain field can run well into five figures.

You can reach the Lapeer County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at 1800 Imlay City Road in Lapeer, (810) 245-5711.