Graham County, AZ: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

Graham County, AZ: USDA's soil survey calls 78.5% of the county "Very limited" for a septic leach field. Practically, that rules out a simple gravity system for most of the county - 78.5% of it sits in USDA's most-constrained bucket. The county spans 4,621.877 square miles, home to 40,242 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

USDA's survey covers the whole of Graham County, AZ 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.

Graham County: conventional vs. engineered cost

78.5% of Graham 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.

Graham County's rank among Arizona counties

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Graham County, AZ ranks 2,115 most-constrained nationally, and 4 of 15 within Arizona.

Before you act on this

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