Central Lake’s village sewage system
A community drainfield on M-88 at Central Lake (the village’s state application gives 45.07707, -85.26681; the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 22, T31N R8W) · Map
By Observer Staff · Status as of Nov. 3, 2026
No hearing is set. When EGLE drafts a renewed permit, watch for a public notice and comment period. We check the state’s notice list regularly and will post it here.
What it is
CENTRAL LAKE — The village’s wastewater system. Each customer keeps a septic tank. Pipes carry the tank water to a community drainfield, a field of buried lines where it soaks into the ground. The village’s Department of Public Works says it serves 170 wastewater customers.
Who runs it
The state permit names the Village of Central Lake, and the village’s Department of Public Works runs the system. The department’s web page lists a $2.1 million USDA sewer bond; we found no document for it. A March 2025 engineer’s email says USDA is funding a village sewer project through a loan and grant.
Where the water goes
Into the ground. No document we could get names a lake or stream the groundwater reaches, or which way it flows.
- The state permit (GW1010136) says the wastewater is treated by “Sub-surface Disposal” and disposed of by “Drainfield,” discharging to groundwater in the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 22 (2016 draft).
- A 2018 state inspection letter (CC-001394) describes “individual septic tanks discharging to gravity and pressure sewers which convey the septic tank effluent to a community drainfield system,” with a six-zone drainfield. It found septic tanks not inspected or pumped on a schedule, flow-reporting errors and an inoperable drainfield flow meter, and said the village “should be classified under Part 41 for municipal (public) wastewater systems.” No violation notice was issued.
- A 1999 state hydrogeologist’s memo says the hydrogeologic investigation “has demonstrated that the discharge will not impact residential wells nor surface water quality in the area.” We have not seen the study.
- The village’s 2023–2028 master plan says some drainfield cells “exhibit ponding and other indicators of reduced infiltrative capacity,” and that as of November 2022 the village was waiting for EGLE to approve moving the drainfield south, still on village land. In March 2025 the village’s engineer wrote that the drainfield had been removed from the scope of a pump-station project and was “being evaluated for alternate options and funding.”
- The village’s September 2026 report shows a peak day of 25,179 gallons against 45,920 allowed. The state lists 18 violation entries, mostly missing or late monthly reports, the newest from October 2022; all but one are marked “Active – Not Reviewed.”
- A separate state construction permit (P41005277, issued March 25, 2025, good through March 25, 2027) covers sewer pump replacement and related work. It is not a discharge permit and does not cover the drainfield.
EGLE MiEnviro site record, read Nov. 3, 2026; permit renewal application HNV-97M3-AKJZG (Jan. 21, 2020); EGLE inspection letter CC-001394 (Oct. 3, 2018); state hydrogeologic memo (Apr. 2, 1999); Village of Central Lake 2023–2028 Master Plan; Part 41 engineer emails (March 2025); village Department of Public Works web page.
The permit and the record
- State (EGLE)
Groundwater discharge permit GW1010136
Expired June 1, 2020; listed as “Extended”
Effective June 1, 2016, for up to 45,920 gallons a day to groundwater. State record →
- State (EGLE)
Application to renew the permit HNV-97M3-AKJZG
In process2478 days
Received Jan. 21, 2020. No public comment period is open.
- State (EGLE)
Inspection letter CC-001394
Issued Oct. 3, 2018
After an Aug. 16, 2018 inspection: septic tanks not inspected or pumped on a schedule, flow-reporting errors, an inoperable drainfield flow meter. No violation notice.
- State (EGLE)
Sewer improvements permit (Part 41) P41005277
Issued March 25, 2025; good through March 25, 2027
Covers sewer pump replacement and related work, not the drainfield.
- Village’s own report
Monthly report, Sept. 2026
Peak day 25,179 gallons; no exceedance
Against 45,920 gallons a day allowed.