Steuben County, NY: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

USDA puts Steuben County, NY at "Very limited" for septic absorption fields, the dominant reading across 98.6% of the county's soil. That reading means a conventional system is a poor bet here - 98.6% of Steuben County lands in the strictest "very limited" bucket USDA uses. The county spans 1,390.51 square miles, home to 92,015 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Steuben County, NY - never a reading for one specific parcel. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.

Steuben County: conventional vs. engineered cost

98.6% of Steuben 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 Steuben County, NY compares

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Steuben County, NY ranks 145 most-constrained nationally, and 2 of 61 within New York.

Before you act on this

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