Pond services help in Central Florida
Detention Pond Repair in Orlando, FL
Tell us what is happening. We will find the cause, explain your options, and handle detention pond repair with care.
65+ years serving Central Florida
Licensed local service team
Fast scheduling and clear communication
Service Overview
Detention Pond Repair With Clear Answers Before Work Begins
Detention ponds are engineered to hold and slowly release stormwater — protecting downstream properties from flooding and keeping sites in compliance with St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) permit requirements. When a pond's berms erode, its control structure fails, or its slopes destabilize, the entire system is compromised. The consequences range from downstream flooding and property damage to permit violations, enforcement action, and significant legal exposure.
Lapin Services repairs detention ponds for property managers, HOAs, commercial site owners, and developers throughout Orlando and Central Florida. Our licensed underground utility team handles berm erosion repair, control structure rehabilitation, slope stabilization, and emergency overflow repair — and we coordinate directly with inspectors to restore your SJRWMD compliance status and close out any outstanding notices.
Problems We Solve
Common Detention Pond Repair Problems We Fix
You do not have to diagnose the problem yourself. These are common issues we help confirm, explain, and repair.
Berm Erosion and Washout
Repeated storm events and surface runoff gradually erode pond berms — thinning the embankment, creating channels, and eventually threatening structural integrity. Left unrepaired, a compromised berm can breach under load, releasing pond volume uncontrolled onto downstream property.
Control Structure Failure
Riser pipes, weir boxes, and outlet control structures deteriorate from corrosion, root intrusion, concrete spalling, and joint failures. A damaged control structure cannot regulate discharge rates, leading to both under-drainage (flooding) and over-drainage (dry pond, no attenuation) depending on the failure mode.
Slope Instability and Bank Sloughing
Pond side slopes that are too steep, saturated, or lacking adequate vegetative cover lose stability over time — resulting in sloughing, mass soil movement, and shoreline collapse that reduces pond capacity and accelerates further erosion.
Emergency Overflow Structure Damage
Concrete or riprap emergency spillways crack, shift, or deteriorate under the hydraulic forces of major storm events. A damaged spillway cannot safely convey excess volume, increasing the risk of uncontrolled overtopping and catastrophic berm failure during high-intensity rainfall.
Sediment Accumulation and Capacity Loss
Years of sediment deposition reduce a detention pond's storage volume, shortening the time it takes to reach capacity during storm events. When a pond can no longer hold its design volume, attenuation is lost and downstream flooding risk rises — along with the likelihood of a permit compliance deficiency finding.
When to Call
Signs Your Pond Or Stormwater Asset Needs Professional Attention
If you notice any of these signs, call Lapin. We will find the cause and explain what needs to happen next.
Visible Rills or Channels on Berm Slopes
Surface erosion channels on berm faces are an early warning that the embankment is losing material. Unchecked rilling accelerates with each rain event and can progress to full washout.
Downstream Flooding That Didn't Occur Before
If adjacent properties or roadways are flooding during storms that previously drained without incident, the detention pond may have lost capacity, attenuation function, or structural integrity — and is no longer performing as designed.
Pond Draining Too Quickly or Not Draining at All
A pond that empties in hours instead of days has a control structure or outlet problem allowing uncontrolled discharge. A pond that won't drain is blocked or has a failed outlet — both are compliance and structural concerns requiring prompt repair.
SJRWMD Notice of Non-Compliance or Violation
A formal notice from the St. Johns River Water Management District citing maintenance deficiencies, structural failures, or permit condition violations requires documented corrective action within the timeframe specified in the notice.
Cracked, Sunken, or Shifted Concrete Structures
Visible cracking, settlement, or displacement in weir boxes, riser pipes, headwalls, or spillway aprons signals structural deterioration that will worsen under hydraulic loading and should be assessed before the next storm season.
Our Process
What to Expect From Your Detention Pond Repair Visit
Tell us what is happening. We arrive prepared, explain the work clearly, and give clear pricing before work begins.
Step 1
Tell Us What Is Happening
Call or request service. You do not have to know exactly what failed; describe what you see, smell, hear, or need done.
Step 2
We Find the Cause
A Lapin technician or crew checks the issue, reviews the project, and explains what needs to be done in plain language.
Step 3
You Approve the Work
You get clear pricing and options before work begins, so you can make a confident decision.
Step 4
We Handle It With Care
We complete the approved work, respect your home, business, or jobsite, and keep you informed.
Step 5
We Stand Behind the Job
Before we leave, we confirm the work, answer questions, and make sure you know what to expect next.
Why Lapin
Why Central Florida Chooses Lapin for Detention Pond Repair
Our name is on every job. We respect your time, budget, property, and trust.
65+ Years of Experience
Lapin has served Central Florida since 1958. Our name is on every job, and we do the work in a way we can stand behind.
Clear Communication
We explain what we find, what it means, and what your options are before work begins.
Respect for Your Property
We protect the home, business, property, or jobsite and treat people the way we would want to be treated.
The Right Team for the Work
We handle plumbing, septic, drains, sewer, underground utilities, commercial service, and serious project work.
Care When It Matters
Every call affects a family, tenant, customer, business, property, or project. We do not take that lightly.
Related Services
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FAQs
Detention Pond Repair FAQs
What makes a detention pond different from a retention pond, and does it affect how repairs are done?
A detention pond holds water temporarily and releases it slowly through a control structure — it is normally dry or has a small permanent pool. A retention pond maintains a permanent water level. The repair methods differ: detention ponds require special attention to control structure function and outlet capacity, while retention ponds involve wet-environment slope and bank work. Lapin services both types throughout Central Florida.
My HOA received a notice from SJRWMD citing pond maintenance deficiencies. How quickly do we need to respond?
SJRWMD notices typically specify a response and correction deadline — often 30 to 90 days depending on the severity of the deficiency. Missing that deadline can result in escalating enforcement, fines, and permit suspension. Contact Lapin as soon as the notice arrives so we can assess the scope and confirm repairs are completed and documented before the deadline.
Can a damaged detention pond berm be repaired, or does the entire embankment need to be rebuilt?
Most berm damage — surface erosion, rilling, localized washouts, and slope failure — can be repaired by regrading, compacting fill to specification, and re-establishing vegetative cover. Full reconstruction is typically only required when the berm has been breached or the embankment is so degraded that the core material no longer meets design specifications. We assess each situation and recommend the most effective repair scope.
What happens if a detention pond control structure fails during a storm?
A failed control structure means the pond cannot regulate discharge. Depending on the failure mode, this can result in rapid uncontrolled drainage that sends excess flow downstream without attenuation — causing flooding, erosion, and property damage — or a blocked outlet that causes the pond to overtop its berm. Either scenario creates significant liability exposure for the property owner and likely constitutes a permit violation.
Do detention pond repairs require permits in Orange County or other Central Florida jurisdictions?
Structural repairs to detention ponds — berm reconstruction, control structure replacement, spillway repair — typically require permits from the local jurisdiction and may require a modification or maintenance notification to SJRWMD under the original Environmental Resource Permit (ERP). Lapin handles the permitting and regulatory coordination as part of the repair process.
How do I know if my pond has lost significant storage capacity due to sediment?
A bathymetric survey measures current pond depth against the original design grade and reveals how much volume has been lost to sediment accumulation. If the pond fills quickly during moderate rain events or doesn’t meet its drawdown time requirement, reduced capacity is likely. We can assess the pond and recommend whether cleanout or structural repair — or both — is needed.
Can Lapin Services handle emergency pond repairs after a major storm event?
Yes. We are available 24/7 for urgent situations including active berm erosion, overflow structure damage, and control structure failures following storm events. Call us immediately if you observe berm breach risk, uncontrolled discharge, or structural damage — rapid response limits downstream impact and reduces overall repair scope.
Do you serve HOAs, commercial property managers, and municipalities throughout Central Florida?
Yes. We repair detention ponds for HOAs, commercial property owners, property management companies, developers, and municipal clients throughout Orlando and the broader Central Florida region including Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake counties.
Schedule Service
Tell Us What Is Happening
Call Lapin or request service. We will get the right team moving, explain your options, and handle the work with care.