LGISD in Deep as School Bathroom Woes Uncover 30-Year Old Mistake
-
A scene Wednesday in one of the main hallways at La Grange High School as work continues to remedy serious bathroom problems. Photo by Jeff Wick
At Monday’s La Grange school board meeting, Superintendent Andy McHazlett was the bearer of some bad news regarding the high school restroom repairs.
He told board members that when the 100 feet of sewage line was trenched out, it was discovered that the problem was much bigger than originally thought.
The camera work had shown that the pipe had collapsed, however there is a much larger issue – one that means some restrooms will not be ready for the start of school this year.
He said “The basic code for sewage drainage is an eighth of an inch for every foot. So the rise over run is one eighth of an inch for every foot. So that amount of space that that pipe takes up called for almost 24 inches of drop. And unfortunately, when it was built, (in 1995) it was not built to code. It was built in only a six inch slope.”
He continued with “The reason that there’s been some sewage issues from the beginning, is that plumbing was never installed correctly. Whether it’s the architect, or the inspector, we don’t know and it doesn’t matter at this point. The pipe never had enough slope to properly move all the wastewater from the restroom to the sewage line. So because there’s not enough room there, we have to go to an alternative plan.”
McHazlett continued, “We were just going to dig up that pipe and actually already had all the concrete taken out and then replace the pipe. But, it wouldn’t have solved our problems and we can’t put a pipe in there because we don’t have enough space to get the right run that is needed for the slope. He told the board that now the plan is to come out the 100 wing restroom toward the middle school parking lot and then make an almost 90 degree turn toward Vail St. Run all the way to Vail St. and tie in where there is a lift station. All the piping will have to be redone in order to get the proper slope.
“We’re looking at Aug. 20 as a possible completion for that restroom. With school starting on Aug. 5, we will not have the restrooms in the 100 hall from Aug. 5-20.”