Saguache County's SSURGO septic rating
Very limited
USDA puts Saguache County, CO at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 89.2% of the county's soil. Practically, that rules out a simple gravity system for most of the county - 89.2% of it sits in USDA's most-constrained bucket. The county spans 3,168.566 square miles, home to 6,670 people.
What this number does and doesn't tell you
Saguache County's rating is an average across the whole county, not a promise about any one lot inside it. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.
Saguache County: conventional vs. engineered cost
89.2% of Saguache 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, Saguache County, CO ranks 1,359 most-constrained nationally, and 20 of 63 within Colorado.
Related guides
How this rating is built, and its real limits · Conventional vs. engineered septic systems