Cochise County's SSURGO septic rating
Very limited
Cochise County, AZ: USDA's soil survey calls 79.9% 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 79.9% of the county. The county spans 6,209.872 square miles, home to 125,773 people.
What this number does and doesn't tell you
Two lots a mile apart in Cochise County can carry different soil, even though they share one countywide rating. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.
Cochise County: conventional vs. engineered cost
79.9% of Cochise 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 Cochise County, AZ compares
Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Cochise County, AZ ranks 2,049 most-constrained nationally, and 3 of 15 within Arizona.
Related guides
How this rating is built, and its real limits · Conventional vs. engineered septic systems