Winneshiek County's SSURGO septic rating
Very limited
Winneshiek County, IA's SSURGO dominant class comes back "Very limited", covering 93.9% of the county. That reading means a conventional system is a poor bet here - 93.9% of Winneshiek County lands in the strictest "very limited" bucket USDA uses. The county spans 689.844 square miles, home to 19,723 people.
What this number does and doesn't tell you
Nothing about Winneshiek County, IA'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.
Winneshiek County: conventional vs. engineered cost
93.9% of Winneshiek 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 Winneshiek County, IA compares
Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Winneshiek County, IA ranks 802 most-constrained nationally, and 57 of 99 within Iowa.
Related guides
How this rating is built, and its real limits · Conventional vs. engineered septic systems