Converting from well/septic to city water and sewage questions

[Siegel1719]

Has anyone done it locally? Were possibly making an offer on a house in Farmington Hills but this obviously a major concern. Anyone have any rough guesses for connection fees? I will call the city sometime today or monday. Anyone know if the city will allow you to the the lines and they just connect or does a licensed plumber have to do everything? Its quite the long run so if possible was hoping to dig and lay the pipe myself.

Thanks
Jeremy

 

[jsxtreme]

Where is this house located? I would strongly advise you look into this before making any purchases in the Farmington Hills area, esp one on a well.

http://www.candgnews.com/news/questions-continue-middlebelt-tunnel-project-99219

My house was effected, still is.

For our subdivision to get municiple water it's about a $2million price tag to just install the mains. For each resident to hook up it's about a $15k per home cost.

Licensed contractor has to do everything with permits from the city. They don't allow real long runs but they make exceptions in extreme circumstances like mine. I am having a temp line installed Tuesday that will be apx 420'.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the Middlebelt Tunnel Project and its impact.

 

[soap]

There is no way you will be allowed to touch a water main/sanitary sewer yourself. Furthermore, I bet the City of Farmington Hills has a list of qualified contractors who are the only ones which are allowed to perform the work, so you can't just call up "Bob's Plumbing" to do the work.

--Joe

 

[Siegel1719]

I'm told city water and sewage are available at the road. The house in question is about a hundred yards off the road in a subdivision off Inkster and 9 mile. Its a great deal but obviously have to consider the cost of this upgrade.

 

[Siegel1719]

There is no way you will be allowed to touch a water main/sanitary sewer yourself. Furthermore, I bet the City of Farmington Hills has a list of qualified contractors who are the only ones which are allowed to perform the work, so you can't just call up "Bob's Plumbing" to do the work.

I know they wont allow me to do the actual connections. I was just hoping to be able to dig the trench up to XXX number of feet of the mains and lay the pipe. Then pay a licensed plumber or the water dept to do the actual connections to the mains.

 

[jsxtreme]

Your well water could be great. Have it tested before you buy the house.

Prior to the Middlebelt project our water tested better than municipal water. It was fantastic.

 

[beertestr]

Your well water could be great. Have it tested before you buy the house.

Prior to the Middlebelt project our water tested better than municipal water. It was fantastic.

Where are you located now Justin? I'm still near OL and 696. I am about 0.7 miles from the new tunnel, and have not seen any major changes in my sediment filter in my filtration system. Also, where did you take your water to be tested? I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[beertestr]

I'm told city water and sewage are available at the road. The house in question is about a hundred yards off the road in a subdivision off Inkster and 9 mile. Its a great deal but obviously have to consider the cost of this upgrade.

Logic says you'd be able to do the digging yourself, but who said City Gov. is logical? I would think you'd be better off negotiating with the approved contractor, have them handle the permits and approvals, and see if you can be their subcontractor for the trenching.


All that said, I've been on a well for 9+ years, and while it's more maintenance, it's not been a huge issue. I live about 3 miles from where you are looking to buy. That whole 9/inkster area has a lot of nice big lots, we looked there, but found 2 acres closer to the center of FH.

 

[kammi10]

Your well water could be great. Have it tested before you buy the house.

This...

your well water actually could be really good. and then you dont have to worry about paying that quarterly water bill. just a septic clean out every 3-5 years which is cheaper then you would pay for water/sewer

 

[jsxtreme]

This...

your well water actually could be really good. and then you dont have to worry about paying that quarterly water bill. just a septic clean out every 3-5 years which is cheaper then you would pay for water/sewer

And you also have to worry about the county draining your aquifer to install a sewage cistern and not realizing you're on wells.

 

[jsxtreme]

Where are you located now Justin? I'm still near OL and 696. I am about 0.7 miles from the new tunnel, and have not seen any major changes in my sediment filter in my filtration system. Also, where did you take your water to be tested? I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Sent you a PM.

 

[camaromann]

And you also have to worry about the county draining your aquifer to install a sewage cistern and not realizing you're on wells.

That smells like a big F'ing lawsuit.

 

[jsxtreme]

That smells like a big F'ing lawsuit.

We're working with the county and city to avoid that. Spent yesterday afternoon at Patterson's office. A lawsuit would only slow things down and make lawyers rich.

Thankfully there are enough good people at the county and city levels to recognize the WRC's negligence and are working to make it right.

 

[Detroit Gearbox]

I would consider the city water, but I would not get rid of the septic system if possible.

 

[4Gas$]

A few thoughts;

- The cost of hooking up to municipal water & sewer varies greatly.

- There can (and usually are) connection fees such as “Trunk & Transmission”, “Special Assessment” etc.

You need to not only check with the city water department, but also with the city (Clerk’s & Treasures offices)
to understand all the costs involved with this.

- In the State of Michigan, I can’t remember if its municipal water or sewer, but if its available at your property,
you must connect! In other words, you would not be able to get a permit for a replacement well or septic.

 

[beertestr]

This...

your well water actually could be really good. and then you dont have to worry about paying that quarterly water bill. just a septic clean out every 3-5 years which is cheaper then you would pay for water/sewer

That's my big rub with my place. Well water, hooked to city sewer. I pay a sewer bill based on # of bathrooms, regardless of # of residents. Why sewer was run down my street and water wasn't while there was a trench is beyond me.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[soap]

I would consider the city water, but I would not get rid of the septic system if possible.

You can't have both.

--Joe

 

[jsxtreme]

That's my big rub with my place. Well water, hooked to city sewer. I pay a sewer bill based on # of bathrooms, regardless of # of residents. Why sewer was run down my street and water wasn't while there was a trench is beyond me.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Shit be happy yours is calculated like that! We have(had) the same deal, well with city sewer.

But our entire subs sewer flows through one meter then all the houses split the cost evenly. Some houses in our sub have been turned into 5k sqft group homes with 10-15 people in them. My house has 3.

Homes that have gotten hooked up to muni water in my sub have seen their water bills go down after getting muni water.

 

[soap]

- In the State of Michigan, I can’t remember if its municipal water or sewer, but if its available at your property,
you must connect! In other words, you would not be able to get a permit for a replacement well or septic.

It's water.

So he could keep his well right now (and even do maintenance or replace the pump), but down the road if/when the well goes bad, he would not be able to drill a new well.

--Joe

 

[soap]

Why sewer was run down my street and water wasn't while there was a trench is beyond me.

They are never in the same trench. Generally speaking, water main and sanitary sewer get designed on opposite sides of the road. Minimum separation would be 10' if ROW becomes an issue etc.

--Joe