Benson County, ND: the USDA septic-suitability picture
Very limited
USDA puts Benson County, ND at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 72.4% of the county's soil. Expect the ground itself to work against a plain gravity system; USDA's strictest bucket alone covers 72.4% of the county. The county spans 1,388.555 square miles, home to 5,756 people.
What this number does and doesn't tell you
Benson County's rating is an average across the whole county, not a promise about any one lot inside it. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.
Benson County: conventional vs. engineered cost
72.4% of Benson County carrying a "Very limited" reading changes the realistic budget here. Conventional systems run $3,000-$8,000 where they pass; where they don't, engineered alternatives (mound or aerobic treatment, whichever the health department requires) run $10,000-$40,000 - budget toward the higher figure until a perc test says otherwise.
How Benson County, ND compares
Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Benson County, ND ranks 2,389 most-constrained nationally, and 29 of 53 within North Dakota.
Related guides
How this rating is built, and its real limits · Conventional vs. engineered septic systems