# 7.8 million gallons of water tossed out because a single guy urinated in it **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782 "2011-06-17T02:33:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/1 "2011-06-17T02:33:08Z")
Over in Portland, a drunken man[pissed into a water reservoir](http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/06/portland_reservoir_urination_r.html). Now they’re draining the entire godddamned reservoir, all **7.8 million** gallons of it, because of 8 ounces of urine (which is sterile, by the way). **“OMG! 0.008 parts per million of urine in our drinking water!”** There’s not a lick of logical sense behind this. All the water we drink has been in the bladders of countless animals since life began. And I’m sure the reservoir hasn’t been immune to non-human animals leaving their own gifts behind. This is an absurd waste of money. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/2 "2011-06-17T02:39:29Z")
Ew. “Drinking water”? Like in the toilet? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/3 "2011-06-17T02:44:20Z")
Yeah, but it’s Portland. It’ll fill back up in two days. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/4 "2011-06-17T02:45:51Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Over in Portland, a drunken man[pissed into a water reservoir](http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/06/portland_reservoir_urination_r.html). Now they’re draining the entire godddamned reservoir, all **7.8 million** gallons of it, because of 8 ounces of urine (which is sterile, by the way). Fish fuck in that water. Insects drown in that water. Turtles shit in that water. People piss in the watershed! This is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard of. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/5 "2011-06-17T02:46:45Z")
Good God. This is basically actually a large pond outside right? How much damn birdshit falls into it everyday? And fish? As WC Fields once observed, water is nasty because fish phuck in it. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/6 "2011-06-17T02:57:34Z")
Maybe he also dumped a Baby Ruth in there. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/7 "2011-06-17T03:15:07Z")
Holy shit, homeopathic levels of pee? What about all the animal and fish pee in it? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/8 "2011-06-17T03:18:34Z")
I think the local water management authorities should advertise that they have a homeless guy pee in each reservoir every day. That might help with that whole water conservation thing. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/9 "2011-06-17T03:22:18Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > 0.008 parts per million of urine in our drinking water! Well, that’s infinitely more concentrated than a homeopathic solution, and you know how potent _they_ are. ETA: I swear I will preview next time. No-one had mentioned homeopathy when I hit the reply button. That will teach me to walk away from my computer with a thread open. (Actually no, it probably won’t). ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/10 "2011-06-17T03:27:54Z")
And Batman’s latest nemisis, “The Tinkler”, finally makes his media appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/11 "2011-06-17T03:28:20Z")
I heard that the guy had eaten a bunch of asparagus, that changes things. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/12 "2011-06-17T03:40:00Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Over in Portland, a drunken man[pissed into a water reservoir](http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/06/portland_reservoir_urination_r.html). Now they’re draining the entire godddamned reservoir, all **7.8 million** gallons of it, because of 8 ounces of urine (which is sterile, by the way). OMG!! Ready to get outraged about this one. Intolerable stupidity at it’s worst. Can’t wait to read more. > [@](#): > > But Chris Wanner, director of operations for the Water Bureau, said he was worried – though less about the urine than about unknown items thrown into the water by a group of five people who hung around Mount Tabor early Wednesday. Well yeah, but 7.8 million gallons and everything… > [@](#): > > Water officials disconnected the same reservoir in April 2010 after tests found E. coli in samples. Five months before that, they issued a rare boil alert after tests at a Washington Park reservoir found E. coli. But it’s, it’s an outrage, I tell you. In the face of scientific evidence…and birds pee in the very same water. > [@](#): > > Dr. Gary Oxman – the Multnomah County health officer who advises officials on infectious diseases such as salmonella, hepatitis and H1N1 – said [snip] draining the water is “an appropriate thing to do.” but 7.8 million gallons… > [@](#): > > Shaff noted that Portland’s Bull Run water supply contains billions of gallons of water, and it makes sense to clean the reservoir. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/13 "2011-06-17T03:51:54Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > OMG!! Ready to get outraged about this one. Intolerable stupidity at it’s worst. Can’t wait to read more. > > Well yeah, but 7.8 million gallons and everything… > > But it’s, it’s an outrage, I tell you. In the face of scientific evidence…and birds pee in the very same water. > > but 7.8 million gallons… Portland does not treat the water before it enters the city’s system? That would be the only reason to respond as they did. (And have, according to your post.) A piss-poor reason, but still, at least it would be an excuse. I hope they at least filter it out. You know, insects, fish, amphibians, leftover parts of serial killer’s victims. That sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/14 "2011-06-17T03:53:08Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > A piss-poor reason Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/15 "2011-06-17T04:01:22Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Holy shit, homeopathic levels of pee? Good point. If anyone had drunk that water they would have been cured of, uh, well, having to pee I guess. Which would be convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/16 "2011-06-17T04:32:55Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Maybe he also dumped a Baby Ruth in there. To keep the water clean, they should kill all the gophers. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/17 "2011-06-17T07:01:35Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > To keep the water clean, they should kill all the gophers. But if they kill all the golfers, they’ll lock them up and throw away the key. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/18 "2011-06-17T07:28:11Z")
How do you clean a reservoir? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/19 "2011-06-17T07:34:39Z")
[They aren’t even trying to justify it now:](http://www.kgw.com/thesquare/upcoming-shows/Was-the-city-right-to-flush-8-million-gallons-of-reservoir-water-124043564.html) > [@](#): > > The city admits the flushing was unnecessary, and the urine posed no health risk. After all, animals urinate, defecate, and even die in the reservoirs all the time. Water Bureau administrator David Shaff says he decided to flush the reservoir simply because of the “yuck factor.” ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782/20 "2011-06-17T07:38:28Z")
Once again, Portland makes no sense. Seriously, though, that’s what you get for being the Transient Capital of America. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-8-million-gallons-of-water-tossed-out-because-a-single-guy-urinated-in-it/585782.md?page=2)