Most rural and forested parcels in Kootenai and Bonner counties rely on a private well and an on-site septic system, and neither is a title matter — title insurance doesn’t cover whether the septic works or the well water is safe, so these are key parts of your own due diligence. In North Idaho, individual/subsurface sewage (septic) systems are permitted and inspected by the Panhandle Health District (PHD), which serves the five northern counties — Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone — under Idaho DEQ rules (IDAPA 58.01.03). Before relying on or installing a system, confirm there’s a valid PHD permit and that the site passed evaluation. For water, a well must be drilled by an IDWR-licensed driller with a well driller’s report (well log) filed with the Idaho Department of Water Resources; ordinary household use is typically covered by the domestic-well exemption. Verify the septic permit, have the system inspected, locate the well log, and test the water before closing. Kootenai Title Company’s escrow officer can point you to the right PHD and county contacts.