Maddy Parkhurst

Gender neutral bathrooms out of order due to backed up sewage.

Students flushing paper down toilets has been a very unexpected and expensive problem for GJHS custodians. 

Maintenance has found that sewage has been backing up in the school’s only two gender neutral bathrooms. The two bathrooms, found in the commons, are the only bathrooms affected by the sewage and are the only two that are temporarily closed.

“Students have been flushing writing paper down the toilets and it has backed up the sewage,” said GJHS head custodian Jason Garrison.

The amount of paper that had been flushed got to the point where it would cause a backup that flooded the entrance into the counseling office. Around the drains you can see some remains of paper that was in the sewage.

“It’s annoying. I would like to see the process of getting rid of the sewage [problem] go a little faster, ” said GJHS junior Athalia Gonzales. 

With the closing of the bathrooms, it has caused students many problems. Some of the problems have been for students with classrooms located by the library. Another problem has been with transgender students who don’t know what bathroom to use now – or they don’t feel comfortable using the other bathrooms around the school.

The school district had plumbers come out and look at the sewage system. The plumbers would snake the drain to clear the blockage. This needed to be done around three times a week due the mass volumes of paper. Due to the expensive cost it was decided that it would be best to close the bathrooms for a while, according to Garrison.

For more on bathroom-related issues at GJHS, also read: OPINION: The male and female bathrooms are having a major sanitation issue