Most homes in Southfield are hooked up to a sanitary sewer that transports wastewater from the home to a wastewater treatment plant. Homes that are not connected to a sanitary sewer have septic systems buried in their yards. When properly designed and maintained, these systems allow natural processes to trap the solids, treat the wastewater and safely reintroduce the purified wastewater into the environment. However, overuse, misuse and poor maintenance of household septic systems fail. Also, septic systems don’t last forever; the average life span of a working septic system is 20 years. Clogged and leaking septic systems can back up into home, but eventually, the untreated wastewater and sewage saturated the soil in the residential yard and often leaks into adjacent properties, ditches and streams. Please see the attached brochure for more information on how to maintain your
septic system
. If you have any additional questions, you can contact the Public Works department at 248-796-4801.