Franklin County, VT Septic Rating

Franklin County's SSURGO septic rating

Very limited

USDA puts Franklin County, VT at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 76.4% of the county's soil. This is the reading that pushes a project toward an engineered system rather than a conventional one, covering that same share of Franklin County's land. The county spans 631 square miles, home to 51,066 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

Nothing about Franklin County, VT'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.

Franklin County: conventional vs. engineered cost

76.4% of Franklin 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, Franklin County, VT ranks 2,210 most-constrained nationally, and 13 of 13 within Vermont.

Further reading

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