Rural homes here rely on private wells and septic

Outside the city of Macon and the county’s small towns, many rural properties depend on a private well for water and an on-site septic system for wastewater rather than municipal utilities. For a buyer, that shifts the due diligence: you want to know the well’s depth and condition, whether the water has been tested, and whether the septic system is sized and functioning for the home. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources oversees on-site wastewater and well-construction standards, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services offers private-well water-testing guidance. The county health department is also a practical contact for local septic permitting questions. Confirm what inspections a sale requires before closing rather than after.