Exploding Toilet At GSA Building; Employee Says 'I Am Scared To Pee' In Email

(File photo.)

There was a lot of potty talk by government workers after toilets exploded in a federal building last year, sending one woman to the hospital.

"I am scared to pee," was the subject of an email sent by one employee in the General Services Administration, according to a probe of the infamous john incident by MuckRock.

There was reason to worry. "DO NOT flush toilets or use any domestic water," stated an internal GSA memo leaked to media after flying porcelain fragments injured two workers in the September blowup in Washington, D.C.

Decrepit pipes filled with air, causing the plumbing explosion, according to other emails cited by MuckRock.

Water cooler conversation was dominated by the bathroom blast. "Check out this story about my building," gushed an employee in another email. "Who was this???," wondered a worker about the unlucky lady who got hurt, MuckRock said.

Check out the full investigation by MuckRock.

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Comments

[Solitaire727]

09:33 AM on 04/19/2012

That "do not flush" memo has to be the last word in hilarious. We'd be totally S****** in our gov't building -- they installed those awful self-flush toilets.

[glenaurora]

08:58 PM on 04/18/2012

Ah yes, the old exploding toilet, (In W.C. Fields fashion). And as I say; Ah yes, what bull _ _ _ _ . If it bothers you don't sit on it. There's no mathmatical formula on that one, is there?

[Solitaire727]

09:31 AM on 04/19/2012

Say what? Sorry, we females do have to sit down to pee. I can't imagine holding it for an entire workday, either!

[glenaurora]

06:56 PM on 04/19/2012

I understand your dilemma. By the way guys on occasion do need to lay some cable. The message in general indicates; stay away from the "possibly live" commode/s. It may be that Arbys or Mc.Ds across the way may provide a safe haven.

[acarioti]

10:59 AM on 04/18/2012

The government doesn't have a pot to p in!

[Llib Noswad]

06:16 PM on 04/17/2012

Actually it's pretty cool, you wouldn't have to stand back up on your own.

[loopsparky]

05:40 PM on 04/17/2012

Anticipating a Romney win, bidets were installed at the GSA. Also, NTSB vehicles will be getting elevators.

[Reading girl2485]

07:56 PM on 04/17/2012

LOL!!!!!

[glenaurora]

09:09 PM on 04/18/2012

This is true because after each and every blunder Mitt expects a thourough cleansing.

[shart10125]

05:39 PM on 04/17/2012

Doesn't OSHA or some other govt. agency regulate this? Oh wait, govt. regs. don't apply to the government.

[pcs5141]

01:43 AM on 04/18/2012

Building built and maintained by gov contractors,no surprise here,but pretty funny.

[dknowles60]

12:13 AM on 04/19/2012

hear! hear!

[nanzbh]

04:51 PM on 04/17/2012

Obama will create a new czar for this...........Department of toilets and urnals.

[Reading girl2485]

07:57 PM on 04/17/2012

Yes. It can be Mitt's job after the election.

[Patriot Games]

04:06 PM on 04/17/2012

The GSA did nothing that does not go on in large companies across the country. The difference is when Boeing or Halliburton does it they are looked on as "Private Enterprise". Without government contracts where would these enterprises be? Why does the Right continue to hound the government agencies but let the private sector defense contractors have a free ride? Your tax money is what funds both.

[tippy301]

03:06 PM on 04/17/2012

Flush hard. It's a long way to the White House.

[gevan]

03:45 PM on 04/17/2012

...and your house.

[StopThePlanet]

05:52 PM on 04/17/2012

Flush hard or tippy might have to be plunged before we can be done with him.

[mjeffn]

03:00 PM on 04/17/2012

Republicans: "Eliminate the maintenance department."

[MMP77]

04:42 PM on 04/17/2012

LOL! I know right?! So funny!

[Peace Walker]

05:16 PM on 04/17/2012

too right

[Bklein153]

02:50 PM on 04/17/2012

The entire GSA needs fired as an example to the rest of the workforce that their behavior will not be tolerated

[blueyznva]

02:15 PM on 04/17/2012

Basics: Working toilets, yes. Jamborees in Las Vegas, no. I hate to say it, but perhaps this is GSA's way of "trimming" the federal workforce!

[Bigrcube]

01:44 PM on 04/17/2012

Spend some Obama-Bucks$$ to replace the old cast-iron pipes with PVC.

[ibkozi]

04:09 PM on 04/17/2012

Republicans would kill it. They refuse to spend money on ANY kind of infrastructure.

[dknowles60]

12:13 AM on 04/19/2012

cant afford pvc. its made with oil

[No Dogma Freedom]

01:37 PM on 04/17/2012

Basic, you use low water flush toilets and again, only in the USA is this happening and in 3rd world countries

[juanjo]

04:19 PM on 04/17/2012

I own a home in Mexico and in the 20 years I have owned it and used the facilities, I have never had them explode. Not once. And I have never heard anyone else complain about this happening either. As a former plumber I suspect this is caused by poor maintenance on an outdated system.

[No Dogma Freedom]

06:16 PM on 04/17/2012

You should see the systems - outside your known confort zone: what is reported is only a fraction of what has happened - you know that from the trades and how bad code gets busted ----in for profit outfits- I myself can count the bodies taken out of the field from it - you?!

[pcs5141]

01:46 AM on 04/18/2012

Or poorly designed/poor materials.

[drwtsn]

04:52 PM on 04/17/2012

"only in the USA ... and in 3rd world countries"

That statement will be redundant in 20 years, or 2 years if Romney gets elected.

[pcs5141]

01:48 AM on 04/18/2012

Or 1 year if Obie gets re-elected.

[chito bautista]

01:29 PM on 04/17/2012

I work in that building. Walking through that building always makes me want to puke when I come in in the morning.

On that day, we had to be evacuated for hours until they completed their check. Not a surprising incident since it's a know fact that human sewage creates methane gas. I wonder if that person was trying to smoke in the bathroom. Leading to this situation may be the fact that, if you walk through the stairwell, and in the early morning before the ventilation is turned on, the hallways smell of raw sewage. The building was completed around 1938. It's old. I don't think GSA ever made any repairs to the sewage system.

[Bklein153]

02:51 PM on 04/17/2012

Another govt employee who 'wants wants wants'

[gevan]

03:47 PM on 04/17/2012

Do you imagine that some private enterprise would let a situation like this fester?

[IMOPINIONH8D]

04:08 PM on 04/17/2012

WTF are you talking about? They only mentioned the condition of the building. You baggers have a hard time comprehending anything.