Septic suitability in Burke County, ND

Very limited

USDA puts Burke County, ND at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 68.4% of the county's soil. A standard gravity system routinely fails on ground like this; the same share of the county falls in USDA's worst absorption-field bucket outright. The county spans 1,103.619 square miles, home to 2,154 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

USDA's survey covers the whole of Burke County, ND at once, not any single address. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.

Burke County: conventional vs. engineered cost

68.4% of Burke 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 Burke County, ND compares

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Burke County, ND ranks 2,518 most-constrained nationally, and 32 of 53 within North Dakota.

Before you act on this

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