Butte County, SD: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

Butte County, SD: USDA's soil survey calls 86% of the county "Very limited" for a septic leach field. Practically, that rules out a simple gravity system for most of the county - 86% of it sits in USDA's most-constrained bucket. The county spans 2,250.01 square miles, home to 10,891 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Butte County, SD - never a reading for one specific parcel. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.

Butte County: conventional vs. engineered cost

86% of Butte 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.

Butte County's rank among South Dakota counties

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Butte County, SD ranks 1,624 most-constrained nationally, and 38 of 66 within South Dakota.

Before you act on this

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