VANGUARD A
L I M I T E D
T H E
VOLUME 103 |
ISSUE THREE
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F O R U M
F O R
S T U D E N T
E X P R E S S I O N
V I K I N G
NOV. 21, 2 014 |
PUYALLUP HIGH SCHOOL
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T-Swift’s new album reviewed See page nine
105 7 T H ST. S W PU YA L LU P WA SH, 98371
SEWAGE LEAK CALLS FOR
TREATMENT
The Library-Science Building has recently run into issues with the sewage pipes under it. Actions are currently being taken to solve the problem.
“Tanks and pipes should be inspected on a regular basis by maintenance staff to ensure all equipment tudents with classes in the Library-Science is in working order. Underground pipes are difficult Building may have noticed a change in the to inspect,” Foreman said. “Making sure only certain building lately. items [and] chemicals are allowed to go down the Towards the end of October, a powerful odor sewage line is important. Items that should not began to emanate from the bowels of the building. go down a sewage drain can clog a sewer pipe and The smell, most prominent near the elevator shaft, cause sewage to back-up, causing an [unsanitary] comes from a sewage leak under the Library-Science environment and possible pipe breakage.” Building, according to Principal Eric Fredericks. Because the floor of the building is concrete and The leak was discovered after a different issue with the leak is located under the building, the floor would the sewage system, a problem brought on by a failed have to be torn up to reach the leak and fix it. To pump on the sewage system and a change in the prevent bothering classes in the building, repairs are water table. This issue was resolved near the end of being put off until Winter Break. October this year. “Facilities and maintenance has been here working Fredericks explains where the smell comes from. to fix the floats. We have had—I believe—success “As to why the smell exists, we have a better with that. We have only had smell one time in the understanding of that now. The smell exists because, last two weeks and two weeks ago it was pretty bad. as was suspected earlier, that there are some breaks There is a plan, I believe, over Christmas Break, for or cracks [in the sewage line],” them to repair the pipe,” Fredericks Fredericks said. “The sewage line said. “The pipe is under the concrete “THE HEALTH feeds into a septic system and from D E P A R T M E N T A N D floor, however, of the Library-Science that septic system, that catch basin S C H O O L D I S T R I C T Building so that is going to entail is then pumped into the sewer line, T A K E T H E H E A L T H ripping the floor up and replacing the city sewer. So what has been that pipe.” AND SAFETY OF happening is…when the floats Foreman was asked the effect the STUDENTS VERY [in the tank] reach a certain level, leak may pose on students and staff SE R IOUSLY.” then the pumps pump the sewage in the building. DONALD FOREMAN out. What was not happening is “It will depend on the severity ENVIRONMENTAL that the floats were not working of the leak. The school district HEALTH SPECIALIST properly and so the sewage in the maintenance staff may need catch tank was getting too high and to perform remediation work and remove any backfilling into the sewer line. Now when it is flowing contaminated soil surrounding the leaking pipe,” one directionally as it should, that is fine but it is not Foreman said. meant to hold it permanently, it is meant to flow into Chemistry teacher Angie Reed teaches in the the tank. When the sewage backs up and it is plugged Library-Science Building. She was asked the ways with this sewage, it tends to find the cracks and there the sewage leak has affected her classes and her is your smell.” classroom. Environmental Health Specialist Donald Foreman, “Inside the class, it is fine because the door is closed with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, but when the door opens it is stinky—on the days it confirms the discovery of a leak under the Library- is stinky,” Reed said. “So one day we moved our class Science Building. down to the library because it was really yucky in the “A camera has been sent down this pipe and a hallway. But other than that, just the complaining of small leak has been found underground,” Foreman the kids when they have to go to the bathroom is what said. “The school district is working with a contractor I hear mostly.” to make sure the leak is repaired and all parts of the While the smell of the leak has bothered some sewage system are working properly. This leak should classrooms in the building, others seem to be have little or no impact to the school or community if unaffected by it. repaired timely.” Physics teacher Michael Segers Actions are currently being taken also teaches in the Library Science “THE PIPE to keep the smell and leak from Building but does so at the opposite IS UNDER THE getting out of hand. end of the hall than Reed. At this CONCRETE “The school district is currently end, the odor does not bother Segers’ FLOOR...OF THE taking action to resolve the classroom. problem,” Foreman said. “A L I B R A R Y - S C I E N C E “Since my room is furthest BU I L DI NG...” contractor has been hired and they from where the odor seems to be have sent a camera down the pipe. originating, it has not affected They are also inspecting the system’s my room nearly as much as it has ERIC FREDERICKS tank and seals.” affected Mrs. Reed’s room,” Segers PRINCIPA L District Facilities and Maintenance said. “It makes for a sort of distractive staff members have been working learning environment when students on the building to fix the issue and develop the plan come in to the classroom kind of complaining—and for replacing the pipe. very much so.” “What we were doing about it in the beginning was While the smell is a bothersome odor, Fredericks contacting Facilities and Maintenance to let them says there is no health threat to students. know there was a problem,” Fredericks said. “Their “It is not a large enough leak to cause any health response to it was to—and very appropriately so— concerns—it is not a large enough leak to cause treat the smell with a deodorizer. They then figured any other concerns but it does certainly smell bad,” out that there was something wrong with septic Fredericks said. system so they then repaired that. I know they have Foreman reiterates the point. sent cameras up into the pipes to figure out how “The health department and school district take the pipes have been compromised. Now they better the health and safety of students and staff very know how those are compromised and they realized seriously. This leak does not appear to pose a hazard it is a bit more of a concern than they had previously to students or staff,” Foreman said. “If a health hazard considered.” is found the health department will work with the Upkeep and maintenance is required on the school district to take immediate steps to protect the building but repairs do not fix age. The pipe with the health of students and staff.” leak is 52 years old.
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