Why It Matters
Why You Got the Letter
Wisconsin law requires every county to inventory private onsite wastewater treatment systems (POWTS) and run a maintenance program covering all of them (Wis. Stat. 145.20). Since October 1, 2019, every system in the state has been on a county tracking program that mails a reminder when its three-year inspection comes due and follows up on delinquent properties (Wisconsin DSPS). If the letter's wording leaves you unsure, our guide to the three-year rule goes through what it's asking for.
In Bellevue, that program is run by Brown County Planning & Land Services, Zoning Division. Your letter means county records show your system's three-year inspection is due or overdue, and Bellevue POWTS inspections by a qualified provider are how you answer it.
Local Rules
What Happens If You Don't Respond
Brown County's ordinance has the Zoning Office notify owners by mail when an inspection or pumping is due. The Zoning Administrator can enforce the chapter, including inspecting a system under a special inspection warrant, and violations can be referred to the county's Corporation Counsel (Brown County Code, Chapter 11). Follow the deadlines and instructions in your own letter, but the message is clear: it's far simpler to book the inspection.
What's Included
What the Inspection Includes
- Tank: sludge and scum measured; pumped if together they fill one-third of the tank.
- Baffles and effluent filter: checked, and the filter cleaned.
- Pump chamber, pump, floats and alarm on mound and at-grade systems.
- Holding tanks: level, alarm and servicing contract status.
- Soil absorption area: walked for surface signs of failure.
- County report: filed by us, using the county's existing-system inspection form where required (Brown County POWTS forms).
- Your copy: written findings in plain language.
If the measurements show the tank needs pumping, we tell you on the spot, and you decide whether we do it that day.
Owner Tips
Reading Your Notice
Check these details before you book:
- Parcel number and address. Make sure they match your property.
- Due date. Book before it, not on it; reports take time to reach the county.
- System type. The letter or your permit may list conventional, mound, at-grade or holding tank.
- Whether it's a first or later notice. A later notice means the earlier ones weren't answered; call us right away.
If you think the notice is wrong (for example, the house is now on sewer, or the system was serviced recently), contact Brown County Zoning with your records.
Local Context
Bellevue Before and After 2003
Bellevue lies about four miles east of Green Bay. German immigrants settled the area around 1850, when it was known as Manitou, and the present name comes from French words for "beautiful view". It remained a town until February 14, 2003, when it incorporated as a village; the 2020 census counted 15,935 residents (Wikipedia: Bellevue). The village now maintains about 70.6 miles of sanitary sewer mains (Village of Bellevue, Utilities). Parcels those mains don't reach are the ones Brown County writes to, and permits issued before 2003 may say "Town of Bellevue", so search both names when you gather records for Bellevue POWTS inspections.
When the East River Comes Up
On March 14, 2019, a flash flood warning covered the East River through parts of Green Bay, De Pere, Allouez and Bellevue (FOX 11), and nearly 150 people were rescued in the flooding that month (Universities of Wisconsin). Now take a low Bellevue lot on a private system after water like that goes down: will the system work, and is the well safe? For the tank, the EPA lists settling and a system that won't accept water as signs of flood damage and advises a professional inspection if you suspect it (EPA). So book Bellevue POWTS inspections early instead of waiting for the county's letter. The well is work for a licensed well driller or pump installer, not us: Wisconsin DHS says to drink unaffected water until the well is disinfected and tested for coliform and E. coli (DHS).
FAQ
Bellevue POWTS Inspections FAQ
What does POWTS stand for?
Private onsite wastewater treatment system: Wisconsin's term for any septic system, mound, at-grade system or holding tank.
I just bought the house. Why am I getting the notice?
The three-year cycle follows the system, not the owner. If the previous owner was due, you're now responsible. Book Bellevue POWTS inspections as soon as possible.
Can I do the inspection myself?
Not unless you hold one of the plumbing or POWTS credentials the state accepts; the list is on our POWTS inspections page, along with the full inspection process. We're licensed for that work in Wisconsin.
My system was pumped last year. Why the notice?
The service may not have been reported. Find the receipt and send it to the county, or call the company that did the work.
Does every inspection mean pumping?
No. The tank only has to be pumped once sludge and scum reach a third of its volume (SPS 383.54); plenty of owners have it done at the three-year visit anyway.