The suburban Altamonte Springs, FL-based firm is seeking unspecified damages in Osceola Circuit Court but lawyers following the case tell GlobeSt.com the figure could reach $1 million.

Greater Construction alleges the manufacturer and installed created drainfields that were crushed, broken or disconnected during installation and never disclosed that information to either the home buyer or to the builder.

The septic tanks were installed at the 638-home Greater Hills community and the 378-home Greater Pines subdivision, both in neighboring Lake County.

The defendants deny the charges and argue the systems were properly manufactured and installed.

Listed in the suit are EZflow of Oakland, TN; Ring Corp., EZflow's partner; Nu-Drain Inc. of St. Augustine, FL and its owners, Randall And Dorothy Houck; and All Pro Services of Kissimmee, FL, the septic tank installer.

Even as the lawsuit unfolds, the Florida Department of Health is opening its own investigation to find out why the septic tank systems went down so quickly. Their life spans, with proper maintenance, are usually about 25 years, construction industry estimators tell GlobeSt.com.

Septic tank drainage systems are installed in new subdivisions that do not have conventional city-connected sewer lines. The bacteria in septic tanks break up and move the waste material along limestone-bed drainage lines where the effluence is bleached and assimilated into the ground.