Leon Moore, Washtenaw County Public Health, Environmental Health Division

We recently received a well and septic inspection report for a home being sold in our county. It was an older home and, from the outside, it appeared to be in fairly good condition — certainly the type of home that an unsuspecting homebuyer would probably have an interest in.

However, the homebuyer may be surprised when he discovers that the inside of this home has no running water; not only that, the only water available to the home is obtained from a shallow point-driven well with a pitcher pump on it.

To make matters worse, since there is no running water in the home, there are also no toilets inside the home. Hold on to your hats: The restroom facilities for the home consisted of a hand dug pit 'outhouse'. Understandably, this is not something any new homebuyer would like to be dealing with.

Yes, these situations still do exist in Washtenaw County. However, this one will be fixed because of the Time of Sale Inspection Program (TOS).

Broken wellhead in basement

The Time of Sale (TOS) program makes sure drinking water is safe and sewage is properly disposed before a home can be sold. This is done by an inspection of onsite well and septic systems.

Why do we need this program?

Nearly half of the septic systems in the county have reached their service life expectancy, and studies show that drinking water quality and availability are decreasing. Inspections over the first 18 months of the program revealed:

• 18 percent of the septic systems inspected were failing or inadequate.

• One out of every 18 septic systems (5.5 percent) had an illicit discharge.

• 15 percent of the wells inspected did not have adequate protection against contaminants.

• One out of every seven wells tested (14 percent) showed chemical or bacterial contamination.

What does this mean to homeowners who want to sell their property?

Homes with municipal sewer and water are not affected. Only homes serviced by an onsite well and/or septic system must be inspected. Homeowners are advised to contact a certified inspector as soon as possible before selling a home.

This allows necessary repairs to be completed and prevents delays due to inspector or contractor scheduling. Approvals are valid for one year.

Failing septic system - the "water" in the picture is sewage!

Does this program delay home sales?

The program requires the Environmental Health Division to complete the inspection report review in five business days or less. This does not delay closings when the inspections are done in a timely manner.

Some sales are delayed when the inspection is done after an offer is tendered. This is particularly true if corrections are necessary. Since inspection results are good for 12 months, homeowners are encouraged to start the process when listing the home.

Unplugged well in dirty basement. Thirsty?

For answers to questions like the following, please visit our website at www.ewashtenaw.org/tos:

• Are there any exceptions to this regulation?
  
• Must all systems be brought up to current standards?
  
• How can I sell a house before repairs are completed? 

Leon Moore is a Supervisor with the Washtenaw County Public Health Department's Environmental Health Division. He wants you to know that this regulation protects public health and the environment by ensuring drinking water is safe and sewage is properly treated. He can be reached at (734) 222-3848.

Comments

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