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San Francisco Worker Who Peed In Drinking Water Reservoir Faces Likely Suspension

San Francisco Worker Who Peed In Drinking Water Reservoir Faces Likely Suspension
Reuters
** ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, AUG. 6 ** The Hetch Hetchy water system is seen on Monday, July 24, 2006, near Yosemite National Park, Calif. With its soaring granite cliffs and spouting waterfalls, Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley was described by conservationist John Muir as "one of Nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples." But much of the valley now lies submerged under 300 feet of water, after it was dammed and flooded more than 80 years ago to supply drinking water and hydropower to the San Francisco Bay area. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
** ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, AUG. 6 ** The Hetch Hetchy water system is seen on Monday, July 24, 2006, near Yosemite National Park, Calif. With its soaring granite cliffs and spouting waterfalls, Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley was described by conservationist John Muir as "one of Nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples." But much of the valley now lies submerged under 300 feet of water, after it was dammed and flooded more than 80 years ago to supply drinking water and hydropower to the San Francisco Bay area. (AP Photo/Al Golub)

(Reuters) - A public utilities employee found to have urinated into a California drinking water reservoir that had been emptied for maintenance likely will be suspended for several days without pay, a utility official said on Tuesday.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission learned from an employee that Martin Sanchez, who earns $111,000 a year as a maintenance planner, on Jan. 6 urinated into the Priest Reservoir just west of Yosemite National Park, said utility spokesman Tyrone Jue.

"There was actually no impact to public health, there was no impact to water supply. It was just an unacceptable action by this employee," Jue said.

He said Sanchez, who works for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, has not received his discipline but he likely will be suspended without pay for several days.

"The message to him is very clear, even after this disciplinary action - zip it up or you're going to get shipped out," Jue said.

The Priest Reservoir, which holds 674 million gallons when full, is part of the massive Hetch Hetchy Water System that serves people in the San Francisco Bay area.

Water from the reservoir is treated with chlorine and by shining ultraviolet light on it as it passes through tubes.

After receiving the report that Sanchez had urinated in the reservoir, the utility concluded that he had in fact done the deed, Jue said. No criminal charges are pending in the case.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Bill Trott)

Before You Go

Rick Pappas / Flickr
At Beal's Point on Folsom Lake in Northern California the water has almost disappeared. We are in the midst of a severe drought and for much of the Sacramento area this is it's water source.Edit: Since writing this 12 days ago, we've had major fires near Yosemite Park and the 4000 acre Sand Fire east of Sacramento.
Davor Desancic / Flickr
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 13, 2014.
Eric / Flickr
We may be going through a stretch of beautiful January weather right now in California, but our rivers, lakes and streams are quickly drying up... not good. #OurDroughtIsReal
Hans Proppe / Flickr
California Drought: Ducks and Geese in East Jesus
Rick Pappas / Flickr
This empty picnic table which looks out over Folsom Dam in Northern California is indicative of the dearth of visitors. This is just one small facet of California's drought.
Rick Pappas / Flickr
As I stepped onto the forest floor to shoot this I could hear the pine needles crack and could feel the thick dry duf give way under my feet. California is so dry...so primed for fire that one worries about what August and September will bring.
Davor Desancic / Flickr
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 23, 2014
Davor Desancic / Flickr
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 23, 2014
@xsuzi00 / Twitter
Planted this tree fifteen years ago, nursed it to maturity, it died this spring .
Davor Desancic / Flickr
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 23, 2014
Cat Connor / Flickr
Very low water levels at Horseshoe Lake in Mammoth due to the ongoing drought in California, on July 9, 2014.
Cat Connor / Flickr
Tuolumne Meadows, Calif. on July 5, 2014.
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