Topsail High School sewage backups prompt environmental health visit and district response

Topsail High School recently dealt with two sewage backups in their restrooms in the past two weeks, which led to a response from Pender County Environmental Health and raised concerns among students and parents. School officials reported the first backup occurring last week, followed by a second incident on Tuesday, March 17. Staff promptly cleaned and addressed the affected areas, ensuring that school operations ran smoothly.

To address any lingering issues, the district utilized a vacuum truck to clear out debris from the plumbing line. While this process briefly caused a plumbing odor, officials acted quickly to resolve it. Pender County Environmental Health conducted a visit to the school and found no further problems, commending the district for its swift response. Building Inspections were also consulted and did not raise any concerns.

Principal Dr. Michael Sasscer stayed in communication with parents, providing updates during and after both incidents. One student, Dawson Peacock, mentioned noticing the odor in some parts of the building, expressing a mix of feelings about the situation. While acknowledging the necessity of restroom facilities, Peacock found the recurring issues concerning. He also expressed some uncertainty about the sanitation process, considering the limited visibility into cleanup procedures while students remained in their classrooms.

School officials clarified that both backups were the result of inappropriate items being flushed into the plumbing system. The school remains committed to addressing and preventing such incidents in the future.