S.F. water manager faces suspension for urinating in reservoir

A mid-level San Francisco water manager is under fire for urinating into a reservoir that's a source of drinking water for 2.5 million Bay Area customers.

City Hall sources tell us that Martin Sanchez, a $111,000-a-year maintenance planner for the Public Utilities Commission, will probably be suspended without pay for the maximum five days allowed as a result of the Jan. 6 incident at the Priest Reservoir in the Sierra foothills near Sonora.

Utilities commission spokesman Tyrone Jue said the 674 million-gallon reservoir had been "completely drained" for maintenance when Sanchez used it as a urinal. Although the urine posed no health danger, Jue said, his action was "not acceptable." [...]

A commission insider sent us a copy of an anonymous complaint to higher-ups alleging that a number of employees had seen Sanchez urinate "several times" in the reservoir -- including the day they learned he had passed an interview for a management promotion and that they would soon be reporting to him.

At least this time they didn't "need" to drain it, since it was already drained. In the interest of full disclosure, I think you should know that I have peed in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and so we'd better drain them right away.

"Water? Never touch the stuff. Fish fuck in it." -- W. C. Fields.

Previously, previously, previously, previously.