{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "title": "National septic dashboard",
  "publisher": "U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development",
  "retrievedAt": "2026-10-26",
  "geography": "United States",
  "survey": "American Housing Survey",
  "periods": {
    "septicHomes": "At the survey interview; occupied housing units, including septic tanks or cesspools serving five or fewer units.",
    "breakdownHomes": "Any reported completely unusable sewage-disposal breakdown in the preceding three months (or since move-in if shorter), including breakdowns shorter than six hours. Not an annual rate or an inspection result.",
    "septicProjects": "Septic tanks added or replaced in the preceding two years; owner-occupied homes. Projects, not unique systems, repairs, pump-outs, or annual installations.",
    "medianProjectDollars": "Median reported spending among septic-tank addition/replacement projects in the preceding two years at owner-occupied homes, with positive separately reported costs. Nominal dollars; not the price of a full septic-system replacement."
  },
  "uncertainty": "Published margins of error use 90% confidence. Derived percentages use rounded published counts; no percentage confidence intervals or statistical change tests are inferred. Survey waves can include the same homes, so errors across years are not assumed independent.",
  "methodology": [
    {
      "year": 2015,
      "title": "A new survey sample",
      "text": "AHS selected a new national sample in 2015. This dashboard starts there rather than joining the earlier sample to this series.",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/2023%20AHS%20Historical%20Changes.pdf"
    },
    {
      "year": 2017,
      "title": "Sewer classification changes",
      "text": "Beginning in 2017, prior public-sewer answers could be carried forward without re-asking. A new public-sewer imputation model also addressed missing answers. Compare septic-use and breakdown populations with care.",
      "url": "https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/working-papers/2023/demo/SEHSD-wp2023-30.pdf"
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "title": "Updated population weights",
      "text": "The published 2021 and 2023 tables use weighting consistent with the 2020 Census. Earlier tables use the 2010 Census. The charts leave a gap at this weighting change.",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2021/2021%20AHS%20Table%20Specifications%20and%20PUF%20Estimates%20for%20User%20Verification.xlsx"
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "title": "The sewer question was asked again",
      "text": "All housing units were asked about public sewer again in 2023. Previously, prior public-sewer answers could carry forward. The difference from 2021 must not be read as pure growth in septic use. This also changes the population used for the breakdown percentage.",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/2023%20AHS%20Historical%20Changes.pdf"
    }
  ],
  "inflation": {
    "title": "BLS CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, annual averages (1982–84 = 100)",
    "url": "https://www.bls.gov/cpi/tables/supplemental-files/historical-cpi-u-202312.pdf",
    "pages": "4–5",
    "baseYear": 2023,
    "annualAverage": {
      "2015": 237.017,
      "2017": 245.12,
      "2019": 255.657,
      "2021": 270.97,
      "2023": 304.702
    },
    "method": "Approximate 2023 dollars = reported dollars × 2023 CPI-U / survey-year CPI-U. Survey-year annual averages approximate purchasing power because projects cover the preceding two years and summary tables do not give individual spending dates. This is a general inflation adjustment, not a septic construction price index."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "ahs-2015",
      "year": 2015,
      "title": "2015 AHS table specifications and published national estimates",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2015/2015_AHS_Table_Specifications.xlsx",
      "sha256": "8241d03dba3d2271ddde9f99f7a7740d3614dc71afdfc0aac33629ac9ca5f759",
      "retrievedAt": "2026-10-26"
    },
    {
      "id": "ahs-2017",
      "year": 2017,
      "title": "2017 AHS table specifications and published national estimates",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2017/2017%20Table%20Specifications%20and%20PUF%20Estimates%20for%20User%20Verification.xlsx",
      "sha256": "4c64da4202f27f4f94560ece831eec952771b94cf66ec68d73ab54ca53acaa53",
      "retrievedAt": "2026-10-26"
    },
    {
      "id": "ahs-2019",
      "year": 2019,
      "title": "2019 AHS table specifications and published national estimates",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2019/2019%20AHS%20Table%20Specifications%20and%20PUF%20Estimates%20for%20User%20Verification.xlsx",
      "sha256": "88cb3a7e131aa30c2d287ae7d5ae9f21781265506153d362fdc22724bbacb530",
      "retrievedAt": "2026-10-26"
    },
    {
      "id": "ahs-2021",
      "year": 2021,
      "title": "2021 AHS table specifications and published national estimates",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2021/2021%20AHS%20Table%20Specifications%20and%20PUF%20Estimates%20for%20User%20Verification.xlsx",
      "sha256": "6e5c3f0237a027d422b7270fa763a3ea8a22888db2c954390bffa8209fef169d",
      "retrievedAt": "2026-10-26"
    },
    {
      "id": "ahs-2023",
      "year": 2023,
      "title": "2023 AHS table specifications and published national estimates",
      "url": "https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/AHS%202023%20Table%20Specifications%20and%20PUF%20Estimates%20for%20User%20Verification.xlsx",
      "sha256": "f94af71db86b11562252823f64ffad919e88ec0f6802a9d91dd8c8732b9b9b0e",
      "retrievedAt": "2026-10-26"
    }
  ],
  "observations": [
    {
      "year": 2015,
      "weightingBase": 2010,
      "sourceId": "ahs-2015",
      "occupiedHomes": {
        "estimate": 118290000,
        "moe90": 407000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E6",
        "moeCell": "F6"
      },
      "septicHomes": {
        "estimate": 23217000,
        "moe90": 660000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E17",
        "moeCell": "F17"
      },
      "breakdownHomes": {
        "estimate": 391000,
        "moe90": 64000,
        "table": "C-05-AO",
        "sheet": "Housing Quality",
        "cell": "F152",
        "moeCell": "G152"
      },
      "septicProjects": {
        "estimate": 387000,
        "moe90": 53000,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "E133",
        "moeCell": "F133"
      },
      "medianProjectDollars": {
        "estimate": 3000,
        "moe90": 449,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "E134",
        "moeCell": "F134"
      },
      "septicSharePct": 19.6272,
      "breakdownSharePct": 1.6841
    },
    {
      "year": 2017,
      "weightingBase": 2010,
      "sourceId": "ahs-2017",
      "occupiedHomes": {
        "estimate": 121600000,
        "moe90": 393000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E6",
        "moeCell": "F6"
      },
      "septicHomes": {
        "estimate": 21720000,
        "moe90": 694000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E17",
        "moeCell": "F17"
      },
      "breakdownHomes": {
        "estimate": 297000,
        "moe90": 48000,
        "table": "C-05-AO",
        "sheet": "Housing Quality",
        "cell": "F141",
        "moeCell": "G141"
      },
      "septicProjects": {
        "estimate": 355000,
        "moe90": 48000,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F133",
        "moeCell": "G133"
      },
      "medianProjectDollars": {
        "estimate": 3000,
        "moe90": 305,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F134",
        "moeCell": "G134"
      },
      "septicSharePct": 17.8618,
      "breakdownSharePct": 1.3674
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "weightingBase": 2010,
      "sourceId": "ahs-2019",
      "occupiedHomes": {
        "estimate": 124135000,
        "moe90": 419000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E6",
        "moeCell": "F6"
      },
      "septicHomes": {
        "estimate": 20293000,
        "moe90": 664000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E17",
        "moeCell": "F17"
      },
      "breakdownHomes": {
        "estimate": 249000,
        "moe90": 51000,
        "table": "C-05-AO",
        "sheet": "Housing Quality",
        "cell": "F141",
        "moeCell": "G141"
      },
      "septicProjects": {
        "estimate": 436000,
        "moe90": 64000,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F160",
        "moeCell": "G160"
      },
      "medianProjectDollars": {
        "estimate": 2400,
        "moe90": 672,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F161",
        "moeCell": "G161"
      },
      "septicSharePct": 16.3475,
      "breakdownSharePct": 1.227
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "weightingBase": 2020,
      "sourceId": "ahs-2021",
      "occupiedHomes": {
        "estimate": 128504000,
        "moe90": 388000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E6",
        "moeCell": "F6"
      },
      "septicHomes": {
        "estimate": 19489000,
        "moe90": 654000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E17",
        "moeCell": "F17"
      },
      "breakdownHomes": {
        "estimate": 320000,
        "moe90": 62000,
        "table": "C-05-AO",
        "sheet": "Housing Quality",
        "cell": "F156",
        "moeCell": "G156"
      },
      "septicProjects": {
        "estimate": 470000,
        "moe90": 72000,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F159",
        "moeCell": "G159"
      },
      "medianProjectDollars": {
        "estimate": 3120,
        "moe90": 879,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F160",
        "moeCell": "G160"
      },
      "septicSharePct": 15.1661,
      "breakdownSharePct": 1.642
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "weightingBase": 2020,
      "sourceId": "ahs-2023",
      "occupiedHomes": {
        "estimate": 133231000,
        "moe90": 381000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E6",
        "moeCell": "F6"
      },
      "septicHomes": {
        "estimate": 24616000,
        "moe90": 766000,
        "table": "C-04-AO",
        "sheet": "Plumbing, Water, Sewage",
        "cell": "E17",
        "moeCell": "F17"
      },
      "breakdownHomes": {
        "estimate": 396000,
        "moe90": 70000,
        "table": "C-05-AO",
        "sheet": "Housing Quality",
        "cell": "F254",
        "moeCell": "G254"
      },
      "septicProjects": {
        "estimate": 548000,
        "moe90": 81000,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F159",
        "moeCell": "G159"
      },
      "medianProjectDollars": {
        "estimate": 5000,
        "moe90": 1422,
        "table": "C-16-OO",
        "sheet": "Home Improvement Costs",
        "cell": "F160",
        "moeCell": "G160"
      },
      "septicSharePct": 18.4762,
      "breakdownSharePct": 1.6087
    }
  ]
}