Oregon's Portland Water Bureau is draining an 8 million-gallon reservoir after surveillance cameras caught a man urinating into it this week.
The move will cost the water bureau $35,000 - $28,000 in lost revenue and $7,500 in disposal costs, CNN affiliate KATU-TV reports.
Is that worth it when the urine involved is really a drop in the bucket?
Scientifically, no, said Dave Stone, an assistant professor of toxicology at Oregon State University, who spoke to The Oregonian newspaper about the, er, leak.
"How many animals are doing that or birds?" Stone asked. "I don't want to second-guess the city, but I can't think of anything chemically that would have me be concerned."
Dr. Gary Oxman, a Multnomah County health officer, also told The Oregonian: "The health risk associated with that is really, really tiny."
A healthy bladder holds up to 16 ounces of urine, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Water bureau administrator David Shaff told KATU it's not about the science.
"There are people who will say it’s an overreaction,” he said. “I don’t think so. I think just dealing with the ‘yuck factor,’ I can imagine how many people would be saying, ‘I made orange juice with that water this morning. That’s not what I want to hear.’ ”
And City Commissioner Randy Leonard told CNN affiliate KGW-TV that the water in the Mount Tabor reservoir is chlorinated before it enters the reservoir.
"The water that's in the reservoir that you see is literally the water that you drink," Leonard said.
Sgt. Pete Simpson of the Portland Police Bureau told KGW the whole mess didn't have to be.
"It's really an unfortunate incident that probably could have been avoided had he chosen a bush," Simpson said.
Gross
The money should come from the pocket of Water bureau administrator David Shaff. Would he waste this money if it was his money? NO!
this is what is wrong with the United States today "‘yuck factor,’" over rules COMMON SENSE of scientific facts.
The insanity of the ignorance of this is astounding. Do something about EDUCATING America so we can get rid of this ignorance
More poop and urine have ben added into reservoirs everywhere by animals. I don't get it.
Where is my troll today? What? No green poop or snot? I guess it is at work.
That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard
What a ridiculous overreaction.
Amen to that.
So the animals eat things such as a road kill etc... and then pee and poop in the reservoir which is ok?
Perhaps they shouldn't allow public access to their drinking supply. Just a thought.
Absolutely! There should be at the least, a high fence of some sort.
A fence? Like the one in the picture?
The fence is only a partial construction... Having been to the locale (which I'm sure you've not!), there are 3 sections without any obstruction!
How many women get out of the water to pee and poo?
Do they swim in public pools?
How many young boys get out of a swimming pool to p-
ee?
Young boys? hah! How many MEN get out of the pool to p**?
Americans are spoiled children.
It's about family values.
didn't expect anything better from u sarah
Nooo You are off topic yet again. Its about the yuck factor.
But I am sure glad the Weiner jokes are over.
But some bird flying over dropping a big one is different ?
If they allow people to swim in the reservoir then how many people do they think pee in it? Quite a few I'd say.
i like the "$7,500 in disposal costs"......does it really cost that much to open the drain???
Yeah. . . drain into what?
I will give them somewhere to drain it for less than half that cost.
Urine is STERILE. Draining the reservoir is a complete waste of money and a waste of water resources. Some cultures even drink urine in religious/health ceremonies.
I think i was the guy that peed in that reservoir
Oh, I see, Sarah.
Hey–come swimming with me. Can you do the back stroke?