Orlando's elevation averages 82 feet above sea level, but the Floridan Aquifer sits just 10 to 30 feet below the surface in most neighborhoods. During summer rainy season, which runs from June through September, the water table rises three to five feet in a matter of weeks. When groundwater reaches the bottom of your drain field, treated effluent cannot percolate into the soil. The septic tank fills faster than it drains, and you get a backup. This is why emergency septic pumping service requests spike every July and August. The problem is not your tank. It is the saturated soil beneath your property.
Orange County requires septic systems to meet Florida Department of Health standards, which mandate minimum setbacks from wells, property lines, and surface water. But thousands of older systems installed before 1980 do not meet current code. If you live in an older neighborhood like Colonialtown or Ivanhoe Village, your septic system may be undersized or improperly sited. Grand Plumbing Orlando has pumped tanks in every historic district and subdivision in Orlando. We know which neighborhoods have problematic systems, and we can tell you whether your tank needs repair, upgrading, or replacement based on current code requirements.