Soil and perc tests in Catawba County, North Carolina

USDA rates most of the soil in Catawba County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 53.6% of the rated acres. No USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

Very limited

USDA rating, 53.6% of rated acres

checked 2026-10-05

Slow water movement

Most common limiting reason

checked 2026-10-05

Yes

Site evaluation required

checked 2026-09-23

What is a perc test and does Catawba County require one?

North Carolina evaluates the soil and the site. It does not use a percolation test.

N.C. Department of Health and Human Services — On-Site Water Protection · checked 2026-09-23

How USDA rates the ground in Catawba County

Very limited across most of the county — 53.6% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 126,905 acres — 53.6% of 236,760 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 109,855 acres — 46.4% of 236,760 rated acres.
Not rated — 8,719 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

53.6% of 236,760 rated acres. 8,719 acres unrated. Survey area NC035 version 28, established 2026-09-10.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

What limits absorption here

The reasons USDA gives for the rating, by the acres they affect. A component can carry several, so the acres overlap.

Slow water movement — 234,069 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 64,705 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Seepage, bottom layer — 46,334 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 21,535 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to saturated zone — 21,083 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to bedrock — 12,315 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 861 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Large stones — 581 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 31 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.

Ratings by soil map unit

The largest map units in the county, each with its rating. A soil survey names the ground. The county's evaluation of your lot is what a permit turns on.

CaC — Cecil sandy loam, 6 to 10 percent slopes — 20,354 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Cecil (95% of the map unit).
CaB — Cecil sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 18,865 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Cecil (95% of the map unit).
CfB — Clifford sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 18,304 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Clifford (90% of the map unit).
CfC — Clifford sandy loam, 6 to 10 percent slopes — 16,776 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Clifford (90% of the map unit).
LcB — Lloyd loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 12,039 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Lloyd (90% of the map unit).
FdE2 — Fairview soils, 10 to 25 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 11,629 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Fairview (75% of the map unit).
TmB — Tomlin loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 11,315 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Tomlin (90% of the map unit).
PeE — Pacolet soils, 10 to 25 percent slopes — 9,818 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Pacolet (85% of the map unit).

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

Sources

Each figure on this page has a government source and a checked-on date.

Catawba County Environmental Health · checked 2026-10-05
Catawba County Environmental Health — Staff Contacts · checked 2026-10-05
Catawba County Environmental Health: Septic Systems · checked 2026-10-05
Catawba County Environmental Health: Application, Evaluation, and Permitting Procedures · checked 2026-10-05
Catawba County Fiscal Year 2026/27 Fee Schedule · checked 2026-10-05
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services — On-Site Water Protection · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the Catawba County Environmental Health, on (828) 465-8270.