GRANGER ISD
GRANGER — Assessing potential damages from 7 million gallons of water including sewage leaking under the town’s newest campus will cost up to $70,000, school board members heard.
The bad news is just the latest in a string of water woes plaguing Granger Secondary School, which saw an August opening delayed until March because of waterline issues including several attempts to tunnel under railroad tracks and connect to the school.
The 7 million gallons of water, including wastewater, that leaked under the new, $44 million campus was discovered by the city during the school’s first water-meter reading, the Granger Independent School District board learned Wednesday.
Trustees approved using a portion of remaining 2022 bond money to monitor the foundation and assess a sanitary sewer leak at a cost of about $70,000.
While Superintendent Stephen Brosch said it is a good idea to examine the foundation, he is more concerned about raw sewage pooling under the campus, which serves seventh to 12th grade students.
“I think we specifically need to look at the sewer and sanitation aspect of (the leak),” Brosch said.
Berry & Clay Construction, the company that built the school, has said it is not liable for the leaks. The company, however, sent father-andson team Ed and Aaron Mullins of Project Control to present options the district may need to take to prevent future damage to the multimillion-dollar school.
Aaron Mullins called the loss of 7 million gallons of water significant and urged the district to be proactive.
“The sooner you tackle the issues the better. It would be a good thing to stay ahead of it,” he said.
Mullins proposed a timeline for different foundation and sewer tests and associated costs.
Ed Mullins recommended the district commission a baseline test on the foundation as soon as possible with an interim test set before the end of the year.
Trustees approved the baseline testing but have yet to decide if an examination of the foundation is necessary.
The next school board meeting is 6:30 p.m. May 13 in the board room at 300 N. Colorado St.
