Many homes built in Brevard County between the 1960s and early 1980s were connected to sewer systems using Orangeburg pipe. It’s a tar-paper-based material that was cheap and easy to install at the time, but it doesn’t hold up. After a few decades, it starts to sag, crack, and eventually collapse. Sand washes into the line, creating blockages. Small sinkholes form in your yard where the pipe has failed.
Cast iron isn’t much better in Florida’s climate. The combination of hard water, high humidity, and mineral-rich soil accelerates corrosion. What was once a solid pipe becomes brittle and weak, prone to cracking under normal water pressure.
PVC solves both problems. It doesn’t corrode, doesn’t react to Florida’s water chemistry, and it’s flexible enough to handle soil movement without breaking. When installed correctly, it can last 70 to 100 years or more. That’s a lifetime solution, not a temporary fix.