Trinity Square Field Report August 29, 2017

July 24th—Russ and Tony meet Jaime on site to inspect and investigate poor performance of toilets at Trinity Square.

Gravity toilet in 116 has 10 inch tank (not needed) and doses not flush very well. Toilet in 113 seemed to flush OK, but fill tube was not installed correctly. Room 113 Room 116

2nd floor women’s restroom has 3 pressure flush toilets; ADA stall had 1.0 gpf, the other 2 stalls have 1.6 gpf.

2nd floor men’s restroom has 2 toilets and 2 urinals. ADA stall had a 1.28 gpf pressure flush; the regular has a Delta 1.28 gpf with 3 inch flapper.

Urinal valve on right would run on for several minutes before shutting off.

It was observed when women’s ADA toilet is flushed; the water spot in the men’s ADA toilet is pulled into the drain. See video to right.

This phenomenon is usually caused by a clogged vent not allowing water in the waste line to flow freely. Vent stack on roof was found to be obstructed with rocks from old roof and trash.

All debris could NOT be removed from roof, so vent stack had to be cut in ceiling of men’s restroom to remove debris at 1st elbow.

Rocks and debris were removed, and vent pipe was re-assembled.

Unfortunately; this had NO effect on toilet performance. At this point it was thought that another obstruction further down the line must be causing the issue.

Sewer camera was run down the 4” vent stack from the roof Sewer camera was run down the 4” vent stack from the roof. NO obstructions seen in waste line all the way to the 1st floor.

Camera was then run down waste line of T2 in 2nd floor mrr Camera was then run down waste line of T2 in 2nd floor mrr. No obstructions found; but when wrr toilet is flushed water can be seen entering waste line of mrr toilet. See video to right.

4” main lateral. It picks up waste from the left: 2 toilets in wrr and 1 toilet, 2 urinals in the mrr.

View from below 2nd floor toilets. To 2nd flr mrr T2 (ADA stall). To 2nd flr wrr T3.

It seemed at this point that bad venting was just a contributing factor and NOT the main issue. The flushed water from wrr gained velocity due to a 4’ drop before entering the elbow leading to the sanitary tee. This velocity allows flushed water from the wrr to rush past the tee and enter the mrr waste line. When it stops at the elbow and flows back to the tee it creates a suction that evacuates water from the mrr toilet. Sanitary Tee

Caroma SSI 1.0 gpf gravity toilets were installed in men’s and women’s ADA stalls. As seen in video to right when wrr toilet is flushed; some water movement can be seen in mrr toilet, but no water is evacuated from bowl.