Palm Bay homeowner’s 350-gallon tank pops out of ground despite little flooding in his yard

A Palm Bay homeowner is facing thousands of dollars in repairs after a 350-gallon graywater tank popped out of the ground during this week’s flooding, even though most of his yard was not underwater.

Tom Kelly said nearby streets and neighboring properties were flooded Monday, but his home sits on slightly higher ground. Most of his yard escaped the standing floodwater, although some collected near a shed.

He thought he’d escaped the worst of the damage until he looked outside and discovered the tank sticking out of his backyard.

“I didn’t see it coming out of the ground. I saw it after it came out,” Kelly said.

The tank was installed about five years ago as part of his home’s septic system. Kelly said it collects water from sinks, showers, washing machines and other household plumbing before pumping it to another tank connected to the drain field.

He believes the tank may have been relatively empty because it has an automatic pump, although he doesn’t know exactly how much water was inside when it shifted.

High groundwater can create enough buoyant force to lift buried tanks out of the ground, even when the surface isn’t submerged.

The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County issued a flood safety warning Tuesday, specifically addressing the dangers to septic systems.

The department warned homeowners experiencing slow plumbing to conserve water and avoid having their septic tanks pumped while groundwater remains high. Exceptionally high water tables can actually crush tanks that have been pumped dry, according to the department.

The Environmental Protection Agency warns that pumping out a septic tank while the surrounding ground is saturated can also cause it to float out of the ground, potentially damaging connected pipes.

Kelly’s situation is somewhat different because his graywater tank has a built-in automatic pump, rather than having been emptied by a septic service. The precise cause of the tank’s displacement has not been independently established.

Now, Kelly says the company that installed his system plans to replace the 350-gallon tank with a smaller, 50-gallon tank Thursday. He says the work will also involve plumbing and electrical components.

“And they gave me an estimation of three grand,” Kelly said.

Kelly has lived in Brevard County for 61 years and says he’s never experienced anything like this.

He contacted the News 6 Neighborhood Network because he wanted other homeowners to understand that flooding can cause serious damage even when floodwaters don’t reach their homes.

“I’ve never seen anything like this happen. I just wanted the public to know what they’re dealing with and what can happen,” Kelly said.

The EPA recommends having septic systems professionally inspected if damage is suspected. Homeowners should avoid pumping tanks while the surrounding soil remains saturated and reduce water use until conditions improve.

For Kelly, the hope is that sharing his experience will help someone else avoid an unexpected and expensive surprise.