Monroe County's SSURGO septic rating

Very limited

USDA puts Monroe County, IL at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 85.2% of the county's soil. Expect the ground itself to work against a plain gravity system; USDA's strictest bucket alone covers 85.2% of the county. The county spans 385.301 square miles, home to 34,969 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

USDA's survey covers the whole of Monroe 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.

Monroe County: conventional vs. engineered cost

85.2% of Monroe 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 Monroe County, IL compares

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Monroe County, IL ranks 1,672 most-constrained nationally, and 58 of 101 within Illinois.

Further reading

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