Wheatland County's SSURGO septic rating

Very limited

Wheatland County, MT: USDA's soil survey calls 70.3% of the county "Very limited" for a septic leach field. Practically, that rules out a simple gravity system for most of the county - 70.3% of it sits in USDA's most-constrained bucket. The county spans 1,422.481 square miles, home to 2,058 people.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

Two lots a mile apart in Wheatland County can carry different soil, even though they share one countywide rating. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.

Wheatland County: conventional vs. engineered cost

70.3% of Wheatland 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 Wheatland County, MT compares

Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Wheatland County, MT ranks 2,453 most-constrained nationally, and 44 of 54 within Montana.

Before you act on this

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