Monroe County, WV: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

USDA puts Monroe County, WV at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 91.1% of the county's soil. That reading means a conventional system is a poor bet here - 91.1% of Monroe County lands in the strictest "very limited" bucket USDA uses. The county spans 472.754 square miles, home to 12,462 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

Nothing about Monroe County, WV'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.

Monroe County: conventional vs. engineered cost

91.1% 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, WV compares

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Monroe County, WV ranks 1,156 most-constrained nationally, and 49 of 55 within West Virginia.

Before you act on this

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