Jefferson County's SSURGO septic rating

Very limited

USDA puts Jefferson County, IL at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 93.2% of the county's soil. That reading means a conventional system is a poor bet here - 93.2% of Jefferson County lands in the strictest "very limited" bucket USDA uses. The county spans 571.237 square miles, home to 36,107 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

USDA's survey covers the whole of Jefferson County, IL 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.

Jefferson County: conventional vs. engineered cost

93.2% of Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, IL compares

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Jefferson County, IL ranks 902 most-constrained nationally, and 40 of 101 within Illinois.

Before you act on this

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