Western UP Health Department

Leading The Community Toward Better Health

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PLEASE NOTE: Our field season is now over & will resume in the Spring of 2024. However, we will be accepting applications throughout the winter months and will schedule appointments in the order in which received.

A site evaluation is the first step in determining if a parcel of land without access to municipal wastewater services can be considered for an on-site septic system.  After a Request for Service Application has been made for an evaluation, a sanitarian will visit the proposed site to determine if the conditions on the site meet the requirements of the sanitary code. Issues considered and examined during the evaluation include:

Photo depicting a new septic system installed on a residential property.
  • Soil type and permeability
  • Depth to seasonal high water table
  • Slope
  • Horizontal separation distance from wells, surface waters, property lines
  • Amount of suitable area available
  • Area hydrogeology
  • Runoff patterns
  • Proposed land use
  • Easements, right-of-ways, & building setbacks
  • Location of buried utilities and other site improvements
  • Existing development on adjacent lots
It is the responsibility of the landowner to arrange for a backhoe to be onsite during the site evaluation.

To initiate a site evaluation, please complete our Request for Service Application.

Additional resources related to new system construction include:

Onsite Sewage Program Fee Schedule

U.P. Environmental Health Code

Licensed Installers Listing