Clarke County, AL: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

Clarke County, AL: USDA's soil survey calls 81.6% of the county "Very limited" for a septic leach field. Expect the ground itself to work against a plain gravity system; USDA's strictest bucket alone covers 81.6% of the county. The county spans 1,238.42 square miles, home to 22,142 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

USDA's survey covers the whole of Clarke County, AL 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.

Clarke County: conventional vs. engineered cost

81.6% of Clarke 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.

Clarke County's rank among Alabama counties

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Clarke County, AL ranks 1,960 most-constrained nationally, and 31 of 67 within Alabama.

Before you act on this

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