Jay County, IN: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

Jay County, IN's SSURGO dominant class comes back "Very limited", covering 98.7% of the county. This is the reading that pushes a project toward an engineered system rather than a conventional one, and it covers 98.7% of Jay County's land. The county spans 383.905 square miles, home to 20,164 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

Nothing about Jay County, IN'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.

Jay County: conventional vs. engineered cost

98.7% of Jay 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, Jay County, IN ranks 132 most-constrained nationally, and 7 of 90 within Indiana.

Further reading

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