A water company worker is out of a job after he was spotted peeing in the water supply at a Louisiana sewage treatment plant, community officials said.
The 57-year-old was arrested and charged with two counts of contaminating water supplies and criminally damaging critical infrastructure following the “unauthorized leak” at a Donaldsonville water works, WBRZ and The Advocate reported.
Video of the March 19 incident shows the clerk adjusting the camera so the lower half of his body is not in the frame before hearing him urinate into one of the water tanks.
He walks away and returns a short time later to move the camera to its original position, according to video obtained by McClatchy News.
Ascension Ward President Clint Cointment said officials were notified of the incident days later, adding he was “extremely disappointed”. An investigation confirmed the allegations and the worker was fired.
“At no point was the public in any danger,” Cointment wrote in a March 22 statement. “All water samples taken so far are harmless and meet all the requirements for safe drinking water.”
The man, described as a “long-time employee”, was accused of relieving himself in the water tanks at least twice in a month, The Advocate reported, citing sheriff’s deputies.
According to the newspaper, the plant is equipped with two toilets, including one on the floor where the employee worked.
The case has since been handed over to prosecutors, local government officials said. State and federal authorities have also been notified.
“This incident is now under their jurisdiction as an ongoing investigation,” Cointment said.
Ascension Parish is about 25 miles southeast of Baton Rouge.
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