Draining

A friend of mine went to a meeting today about a long standing problem we have had with the floor drains in 3 crucial areas (bathrooms). For y-e-a-r-s we have talked about this problem. Every time we have an overflow, the water seeps, ebbs, flows and spreads away from the drain. The grout around the drain was improperly installed and forms a plateau higher than the surrounding tile. In times of flood the drain is the driest spot on the floor, a virtual island in a lake. When we use the mop to push the water toward the drain, the water rushes back at us. We've talked about this. We've complained about this. Our complaints have been forwarded up the ladder. We've written complaints about this. We've documented drain discussions in meeting minutes multiple times. We've forwarded copies of these minutes up the ladder. Besides talk, nothing has been done to fix these drains that don't, won't, can't drain. Somebody rattled some cages and now there is hope that change is in the future. My friend attended a meeting today with his supervisor, building staff, property management supervisor and the architect of the building. Five men sat and talked about drains. The architect stated the drains were level with the floor. True, but the grout around them is higher protecting the drain from any liquid coming toward it. The architect suggested that we requested the drains be installed in this manner because we thought it would be safer. How would anyone think hazardous waste flowing away from a floor drain would be safer? By this time the meeting moved into a bathroom so they could see one of the drains in question. The architect stated that even if the floor drain were lower, the floor would still be wet when things overflowed. !!! My friend pulled out his bottle of water and poured it around the floor drain. The water rushed away from the drain and toward the feet of the people at the meeting. One meeting participant say, "Look at that - it IS like an island in a lake." Always prepared as he was taught in Boy Scouts, he anticipated the minimizing and BS. He shocked and awed them with his show and tell technique. At this point of his telling of the story, I burst out laughing. I cannot believe he did that. Years of talking about non-draining drains drained him of restraint. He then led to another bathroom with a functioning drain and poured water on that while they watched the water go down the drain. At this point, the architect, wearing wet shoes, asked why we waited 17 years to complain about this problem. The end of the story is yet to come. Will the drains eventually live up to their name and drain?