Drain Commissioner

Residential Property

Upon request of a local municipality or property owner the Drain Commissioner shall perform an on-site inspection of the property within ten (10) days and will then issue a recommendation letter to the municipality and property owner. This inspection will be a visual inspection of surface water conditions only.

If groundwater problems are suspected the Drain Commissioner will recommend that the owner hire at their expense an engineer or geologist.

The review fee will be paid by the municipality requesting the review at the time of written submission of request for review.

Items that landowner should taken into consideration when looking for a building site:

1. High groundwater level in area, proven by soil borings.

2. Soil types in the area.

3. Natural runoff of the area to be developed.

4. The runoff after development can not be more than the natural runoff and can not be channeled in such a way to cause problems to adjacent properties.

5. Calculations of detention and retention basins will need to be provided to the Drain Commissioner upon request for review. Retention basins will hold 5.5 inches in 24 hours, detention basins must hold a 10 year storm in 24 hours.

6. Site plan showing water flow and location of on-site retention and detention of water will need to be provided to Drain Commissioner upon request for review.

7. Any basin holding one foot of water more than 24 hours will be fenced.

8. Floor of basements should be constructed more than one foot above the seasonal high water level in the area.

9. Do not construct any openings into buildings below ground level unless there is drainage away from the area.

10. If off-site discharge of water is necessary and the discharge will be into a drain under the jurisdiction of the Drain Commissioner a permit from the Drain Commissioner will be required.

Calhoun County
315 West Green Street
Marshall, MI 49068
Phone: (269) 781-0700
Fax: (269) 781-0140

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