Chautauqua Well and Septic Sales Need a Survey

A Chautauqua County home sale with private water or an onsite wastewater system needs more than a handshake about the well and septic. The Water Sewage Survey is a required Environmental Health step, with a fee, when that kind of property is sold or transferred.

Wastewater systems are evaluated from April 1 through November 30 when occupancy and weather requirements allow. That seasonal window is worth catching early if a closing is aimed at winter, spring mud, or lake-season timing.

The packet route is still paper-minded. The online submission form is no longer offered. Owners fill out the application, print it, sign it, and mail it with payment to the address on the form. The 2023 fee schedule puts the combined private-water and sewage/wastewater survey at $350. A water-alone or sewage-alone survey is $175.

If the evaluation finds a problem, the fix might be well disinfection, continuous water disinfection, or repair or replacement of the onsite wastewater system. Written follow-up goes to the owner’s attorney. For buyers and sellers, the good folder is simple: application, fee, season, attorney, well records, septic records, and closing date. That keeps a quiet rural systems issue from surprising everyone right before the table is ready.