Portland Empties 38m Gallon Resevoir

[bronsin]

....after ONE person was caught urinating in it.

See BBC on line for the complete story.

sorry cant paste from Windows 7.

[Thirty-Nine]

Not the first time it's happened here. We don't have covered reservoirs for some reason. I think it's a bit nutty ... but then again, Portland can be a bit nutty!

[bronsin]

Just think about all the eagles who have s*** in it and you begin to get an understanding of what is involved here!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

....after ONE person was caught urinating in it.

See BBC on line for the complete story.

sorry cant paste from Windows 7.

Yeah, I was listening to two people on the radio debating about how to best raise kids, and one of them mentioned this incident (it was a teenager who did it). Some places in the SF Bay Area have some of the best water in the country. Here...not so much. I heard that Lake Houston has 6 times what should be the acceptable level of bacteria in it. Our water comes from Lake Conroe and a few other places, but not Lake Houston, IIRC. We share a water district with one other community and independent testing of the water is done at least as often as required, and I think it's more often. Nevertheless, I still either drink a 'no name' bottled water, or if I drink from the tap I only put the water in a bottle that has a filter on the spout.

[sqcomp]

Yeah...I read about that this morning.

The kid got way with a slap on the wrist. Personally, IMHO he needs to take responsibility for the cost of the sanitation of the water supply. Ultimately, this would fall on the parents.

[bronsin]

Here is the article

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27069611

Personally I think this is insane. Theres all kinds of crap already in there. 8oz of piss diluted by 38m gallons of water in undetectable.

Plus what did it cost?

I guess they have lots of rain there...

[why?]

stupid. I assume it goes through a treatment plant of some sort before it actually goes to people's faucets. What a waste.

[bronsin]

As I understand it, there are detectable levels of things like birth control pills that people flush down the toilet and wind up in drinking water. Theres no way to remove medicines from drinking water.

Oh and BTW that includes bottled water which comes from a faucet NOT a spring!

[Thirty-Nine]

BTW, this isn't the first time some dude pees in the reservoir and they empty it. I think it costs about $10,000 to do so, IIRC.

Our open air reservoirs have been a problem in the past.

[why?]

Originally Posted by bronsin

As I understand it, there are detectable levels of things like birth control pills that people flush down the toilet and wind up in drinking water. Theres no way to remove medicines from drinking water.

Oh and BTW that includes bottled water which comes from a faucet NOT a spring!

yes there are several things that most treatment plants can't deal with at all.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

BTW, this isn't the first time some dude pees in the reservoir and they empty it. I think it costs about $10,000 to do so, IIRC.

Our open air reservoirs have been a problem in the past.

Hmmm that's not too much. How much does it rain there a lot? Trust me in CA they don't drain the reservoir because of something like this! The isn't enough water for all needs as it is in CA.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Hmmm that's not too much. How much does it rain there a lot? Trust me in CA they don't drain the reservoir because of something like this! The isn't enough water for all needs as it is in CA.

.....and an amazing amount is being diverted because of the Delta Smelt .

[MattS.]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Hmmm that's not too much. How much does it rain there a lot? Trust me in CA they don't drain the reservoir because of something like this! The isn't enough water for all needs as it is in CA.

Portland averages 39" of rain per year. Draining the reservoir because somebody pissed in it is ridiculous.

[Thirty-Nine]

Originally Posted by MattS.

Portland averages 39" of rain per year. Draining the reservoir because somebody pissed in it is ridiculous.

Agreed. I bet it wouldn't even be detectable in water samples.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MattS.

Portland averages 39" of rain per year. Draining the reservoir because somebody pissed in it is ridiculous.

Yep. Worshipping at the altar of PC is too ingrained.