Failing septic systems are polluting our water: Tell Michigan lawmakers that it's time to act!

Failing septic systems are polluting our water: Tell Michigan lawmakers that it's time to act!

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It's hard to believe, but Michigan -- the state at the heart of the Great Lakes and home to 20% of the world's fresh surface water -- is the only state in the nation without a statewide septic code.

That means that Michigan has no minimum standards for the construction, inspection, repair, or even pumping of septic systems. Michigan has 1.3 million septic systems, and up to 26% of them may be failing.  

And while some counties and local governments have passed their own septic ordinances, this loose patchwork of regulations is not enough to protect our groundwater and ...

It's hard to believe, but Michigan -- the state at the heart of the Great Lakes and home to 20% of the world's fresh surface water -- is the only state in the nation without a statewide septic code.

That means that Michigan has no minimum standards for the construction, inspection, repair, or even pumping of septic systems. Michigan has 1.3 million septic systems, and up to 26% of them may be failing.  

And while some counties and local governments have passed their own septic ordinances, this loose patchwork of regulations is not enough to protect our groundwater and surface water from the leakage of human and household wastes.

Extensive research by Michigan State University found human fecal contamination in 100% of river systems studied in the lower peninsula, and that the primary cause is substandard, failing, or nonexistent septic systems. 

This fall, Michigan has the opportunity to join the other 49 states and set common-sense standards for septic systems. Enacting legislation will:

  • Help identify failing septic systems
  • Protect ground water and drinking water wells
  • Support property values
  • Reduce contaminated wastewater migrating to our lakes, rivers, and streams

We Michiganders value and take pride in our water, and understand how important it is that we protect this extraordinary natural resource.

You can help today by contacting your representatives and encouraging them to support a uniform statewide septic code.  

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Tell your legislators that it's time to clean up Michigan's septic situation

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