Brunswick County's SSURGO septic rating

Very limited

Brunswick County, VA: USDA's soil survey calls 71.6% of the county "Very limited" for a septic leach field. That reading means a conventional system is a poor bet here - 71.6% of Brunswick County lands in the strictest "very limited" bucket USDA uses. The county spans 566.351 square miles, home to 15,750 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

Nothing about Brunswick County, VA's SSURGO figure applies to a specific address - it's a county-wide average. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.

Brunswick County: conventional vs. engineered cost

71.6% of Brunswick 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.

Where this sits nationally

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Brunswick County, VA ranks 2,419 most-constrained nationally, and 66 of 110 within Virginia.

Before you act on this

How this rating is built, and its real limits · Conventional vs. engineered septic systems