Trying to get to the root of the problem

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Steve Dominguez in News

Steven Montoya

Copy Editor

Tree root blockage in the school’s main sewer line caused spillage in the cafeteria, prompting a closure of both the cafeteria and the quad in the weeks of Aug. 24 and Sept. 2.

Flooding occurred in the cafeteria kitchen and the LACER room, according to Plant Manager Frank Muniz. “We had to make a critical decision. We would either have to shut down for the day and not serve the students lunch, or come up with an emergency back up plan,” cafeteria manager Sergio Galicia said.

The emergency back-up plan was chosen, with the cafeteria cooperating with other school cafeterias to get food. All the food had to be thrown away after the flooding to avoid “[compromising] students’ health,” Galicia said.

The reason why the cafeteria took a long time to reopen was the fact that district plumbers did not cover the problem permanently the first time, Muniz said. Soon after the first visit from plumbers, spillage started again in the cafeteria. To solve the problem, plumbers have to remove the roots from the sewer line involving running a snake-like device that “shakes the roots” away from blocking the pipes.

When the problem was not contained the first time, plumbers had to send a snake with a camera attached and sent it through the pipes to ensure the problem was completely fixed the second time. Before the cafeteria could be opened, water samples also had to be taken. “It takes two days for clearance,” said Muniz.

It was a challenge for the cafeteria staff to handle serving students without the convenience of the cafeteria. “For the first day, yes, it was very hectic, since this never happened,” Galicia said. The only way for students to get served nutrition and lunch was through a temporary service line next to the hash house, “which took a couple days to set up.” In addition with the back-up plan, students were also offered barbecue, which was prepared in the vacant kitchen that was formerly Mr. Papa’s room.

Because only the roots were cleared from the sewer line, the trees have the potential to repeat the blockage in the future. One possibility would be to eventually replace the invasive-root ficus trees in the quad with a tree that is less dependant on water, said Assistant Principal Samuel Dovlatian. It would therefore become more cost effective and rule out the option of bringing in plumbers every time there is a sewer blockage. “[The root blockage] becomes an inconvenience for the students, since it closed the cafeteria, and the sewer affects all the water we use,” Dovlatian said.