JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Inmates broke sewer pipes Wednesday night in the Duval County jail, flooding several floors, including a room where inmates first appear before a judge, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
JSO said inmates flushed sheets, whole rolls of toilet paper and other objects down the toilets at the same time Wednesday night, wrecking the plumbing system for the jail, which is at 500 E. Adams St.
JSO said the issue has been happening for several months as male and female inmates on different floors have attempted to talk to each other through the toilet pipes.
"The inmates about eight to 10 months ago figured out that if they stop up the system, they can communicate with each other through the pipes of the toilets," JSO spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda said.
The men would talk to the women on the upper floors.
But Wednesday night, the inmates broke the sewer pipes, flooding sewage through the west side of the jail on the second, first and lower levels.
"It causes an incredible problem for us," Bujeda said. "It's a costly problem, and we have a lot of damage that is going to need it to be fixed."
At least 800 inmates had to be moved to different cells.
"The jail is in working condition," Bujeda said. "However, due to the flooding that occurred and the feces and urine that contaminated a lot of areas of the jail, inmates had to be moved."
Water was shut off to the facility while the pipes were repaired, but it has been restored. Inmates began cleaning up the sewage Thursday morning.
Substantial damage was done to the courtroom on the first floor where inmates make their initial appearance before a judge, so all first appearance court proceedings will be at the Duval County Courthouse for at least a month.
Visiting with inmates is canceled until further notice.
"I am a little disappointed because I wanted to see somebody, and I'm actually disappointed on how little information they give me," Karen Summers said. "I'm a family member. I want to see my brother, and I can't believe how uncooperative they've been."
Others coming to the jail Thursday to see inmates said it's been a big inconvenience.
"I had to pay somebody to sit with my son," Leah McAlein said. "It took me two hours to get to this side of town."
Plumbing expert Bill Fenwick says without water in the toilet's sewer pipes deadly methane gas can appear in its place.
"Breathing it in can be deadly. Something the inmates at the Duval County Jail may not have known," Fenwick said.