Melbourne & St. Augustine, Florida

Across the state of Florida, municipalities are being pushed to rethink the way they handle underground infrastructure. Rising equipment costs, aging systems, unpredictable weather, and increasing labor demands have turned traditional sewer installations into time-consuming, budget-draining challenges. In particular, cities like Melbourne and St. Augustine were feeling the strain. Both communities were actively searching for a solution that would reduce job-site risk, cut down install times, and deliver long-term reliability.

The Challenges Facing Florida Municipalities

Traditional manhole installations require deep excavation, confined-space entry, and the use of heavy construction equipment. In a state like Florida, the environment adds another layer of difficulty. Rain saturation creates unstable dig conditions, water tables rise unpredictably, and soft soils make it difficult to safely set heavy concrete structures.

For cities like St. Augustine, weather was frequently stopping jobs before they even began. Even on clear days, ground conditions were often too unstable for crane use. Melbourne, facing similar constraints, was dealing with extended install windows that stretched resources thin. Both cities needed a solution that could be installed quickly and without relying on equipment that weather or soil could easily restrict.

Additionally, concrete systems in Florida deteriorate faster than in many other parts of the country. High moisture, salt exposure, and natural soil chemistry accelerate corrosion, leading to costly maintenance and premature replacements. Cities were stuck in a cycle of reactive repairs, sending crews back to the same sites again and again.

Where Sand Meets Sewer Solutions

The Poo Pit offers a fundamentally different approach. Made from rotomolded PVC, it is completely corrosion-resistant and built to survive Florida’s harsh environmental conditions. What truly sets it apart, however, is its weight and design. A Poo Pit can be carried on site by a single crew member and lowered into position by hand, using only straps. There is no need for cranes, no need for rigging, and no need for heavy equipment to be scheduled or transported.

This simplicity dramatically changes the workflow on a job site. Crews no longer have to wait for a specific window where crane operation is safe. They don’t need additional laborers for lifting or rigging. And they don’t have to dig nearly as deep, reducing both the amount of disturbed soil and the physical risk of excavation. The entire process becomes faster and significantly more predictable.

Maintenance is equally improved. Because the material of the Poo Pit is smooth, corrosion-proof PVC, it can be jetted and cleaned with remarkable efficiency. During field demonstrations, crews were able to wash the interior to a near-new condition in minutes, which is a drastic improvement compared to concrete structures that accumulate buildup, crack, or degrade over time. The result is a system with far greater longevity and lower life-cycle cost.

Melbourne, Florida:

In Melbourne, the crews expressed that the ability to install an entire manhole structure without heavy equipment was not only more efficient, but felt almost unbelievable compared to the workflows they were used to.

Instead of coordinating crane availability or fighting against weather delays, the Melbourne crew lowered the Poo Pit into place with nothing more than straps and two individuals on site. The reduced physical demand alone was significant. Traditional manhole sections can weigh thousands of pounds; the Poo Pit weighs a fraction of that, yet still provides the functional performance needed for municipal systems.

The crew emphasized how refreshing it was to work with a product that is both durable and practical. They noted that the PVC construction makes it resistant to corrosion, and the ease of jet-cleaning means maintenance crews can restore it to like-new condition in a fraction of the usual time. Their feedback repeatedly circled back to the same point: “This is going to change the industry. It completely changes the game.”

St. Augustine, Florida:

St. Augustine's proximity to the coast creates fluctuating water tables and soil conditions that can delay or halt traditional installs. Even with perfect planning, an unexpected storm or soft ground can make crane operation impossible, pushing projects back days or even weeks.

The Poo Pit removed those barriers entirely because it can be installed without heavy machinery, crews gained flexibility they had never had before. Whether the soil was partially saturated or the weather window was tight, they could still complete the installation safely and on time.

St. Augustine’s team also highlighted the importance of longevity. The PVC material, resistant to corrosion and chemical breakdown, is especially valuable in coastal environments. Unlike concrete systems that deteriorate from salt exposure or groundwater chemistry, the Poo Pit maintains its integrity for decades. For a city that battles environmental wear, the long-term benefits were immediately apparent.

The ease of maintenance was another major advantage. The team demonstrated how quickly the Poo Pit could be cleaned using standard jetting equipment. Instead of dealing with damaged surfaces or structural degradation, the interior washed clean within minutes, supporting a far more efficient maintenance cycle.

Turning Point Results for Florida Cities

Both Melbourne and St. Augustine reported significant improvements after adopting the Poo Pit. While exact project metrics differ based on site conditions, the qualitative outcome was consistent:

• Installation time was substantially reduced, with crews often completing the process in a fraction of the usual window.
• Equipment requirements dropped to nearly zero, eliminating crane rental fees and the logistical coordination they require.
• Safety greatly improved, as crews no longer needed to work in deep excavations or manage heavy lifting operations.
• Long-term maintenance became easier and less costly, thanks to corrosion-resistant PVC construction.
• Weather-related delays were nearly eliminated, giving cities more control over scheduling and reducing overall downtime.

In many cases, the Poo Pit reduced job complexity so dramatically that crews described it as “one product that solves everything” or “a one-product wonder,” capable of addressing multiple systemic pain points at once.

A New Chapter in Florida’s Underground Story

The experiences in Melbourne and St. Augustine reflect a broader trend across the state. Municipalities are actively looking for ways to streamline operations, reduce risk, and deliver longer-lasting infrastructure solutions without adding cost or complexity. The Poo Pit aligns perfectly with these goals. It is faster to install, safer to handle, more resilient in challenging environments, and easier to maintain throughout its entire lifespan.