County residents notified about upcoming septic system inspection

The Waushara County Zoning Department will soon begin notifying many county residents by mail that it is time to have their POWTS or septic systems inspected as required by the Waushara County mandatory maintenance program. Notices will be mailed around the first week of April with inspections to be completed by July 1, 2026. Notices will be come as a colored postcard. County residents receive notices in staggered calendar years, depending on the year your system was installed, was last inspected, or was originally entered into the inventory.
The code requires, that upon receiving an inspection notice from the County, the landowner contact a certified septage hauler, a POWTS inspector, POWTS maintainer, licensed master plumber, or licensed master plumber-restricted sewer, to conduct a visual inspection of the tank and certify the system is not ponding on the ground surface or backing up into the structure. The tank is pumped, if needed, or the licensed individual indicates pumping was not required or the last servicing date. All septic systems, regardless of age, are subject to inspection by a licensed service provider to verify the condition of the system at least once every three years. The licensed provider can submit results online or if necessary, submit the paper verification form to our office.
Failure to comply will result in the issuance of a citation which will carry a forfeiture penalty for up to the amount of $500 plus court costs If you wish to settle the citation prior to your scheduled court date, our office will dismiss the citation if a completed pumping/inspection report is filed with the Zoning Office by the date indicated on your letter. By submitting a completed pumping/inspection report, you are avoiding a possible civil judgement in the amount of $500 plus court costs.
The state of Wisconsin does not differentiate between systems that are used continually, seasonally, or not at all. If there is a septic system on your property, it is required to be maintained every 3 years under the current rules. However, this means the system needs to be inspected and not necessarily pumped unless it is more than 1/3 full of sludge. Systems with infrequent or no use can still be vulnerable to damage from Wisconsin winters and vehicular traffic.
If you have any questions or regarding the maintenance program requirements, please feel free to contact the Waushara County Zoning Department at (920) 787-0453 or Lcd.zoning@wausharacountywi.gov. It is helpful if landowners have their postcard notice, property address, and permit # when they call. Landowners are encouraged to give their postcard to pumpers when getting their system serviced for convenience for the pumper. Additional information regarding the septic system maintenance program, including provider lists and frequently asked questions and answers, are available in the Zoning office or at the department link https://wausharawi.municipalone.com/44913/3-year-septic-maintenance