Is Richmond on city sewer or septic systems?

Most of the city drains to the city sewer and the city's treatment plant on 31 Mile. Much of Richmond Township lacks public sewer and water, its draft master plan says. Homes there use septic systems and private wells. The Richmond Department of Public Works can confirm what serves a city lot.

What does a new septic system cost around Richmond?

It depends on the lot, and the county's soil evaluation matters most. A wet lot may need a raised or engineered system instead of a standard trench field. If the house drain sits too low for gravity, the system needs a pump. The county's own fees are separate, and we put a free estimate in writing after we see the site.

Do I need a septic evaluation to sell a home near Richmond?

In Macomb County, yes, if the home relies on a well or a septic system. County rules require an evaluation before closing, done by county staff or a registered private evaluator. The tank is pumped with the evaluator on site, and the result is valid for one year. A failed system then needs septic system repair or a full replacement, under a county permit.

Can a home outside Richmond switch from septic to city sewer?

Only where a city sewer can reach the lot and the city approves the connection. The city's fee schedule charges out-of-city connections 1.5 times the in-city capital charge. Start with the Richmond Department of Public Works. If the city says yes, we dig the trench and lay the new lateral to its rules.

How soon can the county do a soil evaluation near Richmond?

In Macomb County, the health department usually sets the appointment in three to seven business days. It sets that date only after the MISS DIG clearance date. We place the MISS DIG 811 ticket before we dig the test holes. On the St. Clair County side, ask its health department for current timing.

Septic System Installation in Richmond, MI | Septic Repair, Sewer Lines and Excavation

Septic System Installation Beyond Richmond's City Sewer

Richmond runs its own sewer system. The city's 2025 master plan counts about 28 miles of sewer pipe and six pump stations. They carry wastewater to the city's treatment plant on 31 Mile, just south of the city in Lenox Township.

The township around the city is different. Richmond Township's draft 2026 master plan says much of the township lacks public water and sanitary sewer. Homes there rely on private wells and septic systems. The township holds a new home's final building inspection until the county health department approves its well and septic.

Even inside the city, sewer has not reached every corner. The master plan says the area at Gratiot Avenue and Division Road has no sanitary sewer yet. Lenox Township, to the south, has sewer along Gratiot Avenue and part of 26 Mile, its master plan says.

Who Issues a Septic Permit Near Richmond, MI?

Richmond sits right on the Macomb and St. Clair county line, and the line decides which office you deal with. Lots in Richmond Township and Lenox Township fall under the Macomb County Health Department. Lots in Columbus Township and Casco Township fall under the St. Clair County Health Department. Michigan has no statewide septic code, so each county sets its own rules.

In Macomb County, a new system starts with a soil evaluation, often called a perc test. The county requires a backhoe on site for it, and that dig is part of our excavation and site work. The site plan must show the system and a reserve area, plus every well on your lot and next door.

Across the line, St. Clair County's permit notes heavy clay soils, so most borings there need a backhoe. It bars installs from December 1 to March 1 without the department's prior approval. On either side, we build the system to the permit and coordinate the county's inspection before backfill.

Drain Field Soils, Wells and Homes Around Richmond

Richmond sits on flat, slow-draining ground. The city's master plan names Boyer, Conover, Parkhill and Wasepi as the region's most common soils. By the USDA descriptions it quotes, Parkhill is poorly drained, while Conover and Wasepi are somewhat poorly drained.

Federal soil data explain the poor drain field ratings in Richmond Township. The main limits are a seasonal water table near the surface and slow water movement. Over most of the township, that water table rises within about a foot of the surface part of the year. The township's draft plan says such soils may need extra engineering, so the county's soil evaluation shapes each design.

Where city water does not reach, homes draw from private wells. Inside the city, water comes from seven city wells, each over 139 feet deep. About one home in four in the city was built before 1940, by Census Bureau estimates. In Richmond Township, about half the homes date from before 1980.

Sewer, Water and Concrete Work in Richmond

Inside the city, our work is the line between your house and the city's mains. The city's sewer study found that flow rises with rainfall, and the city removes cross connections when it finds them. The city calls its sanitary sewer a closed system, not meant to drain surface water. A storm sewer connection takes its own city permit.

The water side is aging as well. The master plan says most transmission mains went in during the early to mid-1900s. The city's 2025 water quality report lists no known lead service lines, but 166 of unknown material out of 2,608. We replace private water service lines and restore the ground after the dig.

Around Richmond, we also build inground pools and pour concrete or pave asphalt driveways. Richmond Township requires a building permit for any pool, above or below ground. On septic lots, the county health department says no driveways or patios over the system. We plan the layout around it.