Northern Missouri
Wells and septic come with rural property here
Rural homes in Livingston County often rely on a private well and an on-site septic system, which carry maintenance and permitting responsibilities a city buyer may not expect.
Many country homes in Livingston County are not hooked up to city water or city sewer. Instead, they use a private well for water. They use an on-site septic system, which is a tank in the ground that treats your wastewater. If you are moving from town, this puts more on you as the owner. No one tests a private well for you unless you set it up. A septic system must be the right size, in the right spot, and kept up so it keeps working. Missouri Department of Natural Resources sets the rules for on-site wastewater and how wells are built. The Department of Health and Senior Services gives advice on testing private wells. Before you buy, find out the age and shape of the septic system, whether the well was built to standard, and how the water tests. Make this part of your checking, not an afterthought. Then confirm the current local permitting rules with the county.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Livingston County. See every local note for the county on its page.