Washington County, AR: the USDA septic-suitability picture

Very limited

Washington County, AR's SSURGO dominant class comes back "Very limited", covering 86.3% of the county. That reading means a conventional system is a poor bet here - 86.3% of Washington County lands in the strictest "very limited" bucket USDA uses. The county spans 941.465 square miles, home to 266,184 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

USDA's survey covers the whole of Washington County, AR 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.

Washington County: conventional vs. engineered cost

86.3% of Washington 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.

Washington County's rank among Arkansas counties

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Washington County, AR ranks 1,585 most-constrained nationally, and 60 of 75 within Arkansas.

Before you act on this

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