McKinley County, NM: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

USDA puts McKinley County, NM at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 57.3% of the county's soil. Practically, that rules out a simple gravity system for most of the county - 57.3% of it sits in USDA's most-constrained bucket. The county spans 5,451.064 square miles, home to 68,945 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

Nothing about McKinley County, NM'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.

McKinley County: conventional vs. engineered cost

57.3% of McKinley 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 McKinley County, NM compares

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, McKinley County, NM ranks 2,775 most-constrained nationally, and 21 of 29 within New Mexico.

Before you act on this

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