June 21, 2011

HIV Fear After Man Urinates in Oregon Reservoir

The city of Portland, Oregon, flushed 8 million gallons of water from its reservoir after a security camera caught a man urinating in it, The Associated Press (AP) reports. City officials have said that the water posed a health risk because of the potential of chlamydia or HIV from blood in the urine. Public health officials are calling the city’s decision an overreaction, citing that the urine in the reservoir would have been so diluted it posed little risk and that animals routinely contribute waste to the reservoir. The water was worth about $28,000 plus sewage charges.

To read the AP article, click here.

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Previous Comments:

Ronnie, West PAlm Beach, 2011-10-12 00:02:03
It is a sad day to see this type of article. How far have we come and to be set back by a little yellow urine. If you can drink water from the same location a bear, frog, or bird does his dump well I doubt a humans extras will cause pain. Use common sense Portland, OR or are you just sending a message without saying anything. You can't get HIV from a toliet set. If the this was the last drop of water on earth, well bottoms up. I drink to that. 2011 and still we have this.

Chuck, Portland, OR, 2011-08-11 13:05:31
The reservoir water is well treated before it goes out to the population. Birds are in it all the time and nothing is transmitted either. My Grandfather used to work at them years ago. Nothing could get to the population here to harm anyone. This is just fear mongering by the ignorant hetero's that don't bother to educate themselves about HIV and AIDS. There was never any danger.

Terry Lake, Danville IL, 2011-08-10 08:48:20
Dont we treat this water any way, was there more to the story, and the AP article was removed and I could not find any results other then what POZ Mag was reporting? However, it is probably true... What a waste... They should take the $28,000 bucks from the officials pay and then make them pay an additional $28,000 dollars to AIDS education messages in which they participate.... So sad, but this is what causes stigma and isolation....

MASTER MAT, boston MA USA, 2011-06-28 12:30:50
IF THE RESERVOIR IS AN OPEN ONE WOULD WORRY ABOUT ANIMALS DIEING IN THE WATER. AND WHAT STEPS DO THEY TAKE TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH HIV FROM CONTAMINATED WATER...

Daniel, Bethlehem PA, 2011-06-26 18:51:48
I contacted Portland Oregon about this issue and they responded by stating that they made no such comment about HIV AIDS to the media. Unfortunately, they were quoted in the news article as spcifically mentioning HIV/AIDS as a reason for flushing the reservior. I sent them a copy of the article and expressed my dissapointment in their ignorance about how HIV and AIDS is actually transmitted.

bill, Gary, 2011-06-24 20:42:51
What a bunch of uneducated morons are running that district!!!

Keith, Philadelpia, 2011-06-24 14:22:20
This was a waste.

upset, , 2011-06-24 14:11:08
I feel as though the officials that made this ignorant decision should pay the 28000.00 out of thier pay checks not the tax payers . Then maybe they will learn to educate themselfs before making another ignorant call

Jeff, El Paso, 2011-06-24 00:55:27
They have PeePee for brains.

CM, Toronto, 2011-06-23 22:16:19
I blame every single preacher, teacher, and educational policy maker for this national embarassment. What, other than the Oath of Allegience, are Americans taught in schools????

jacki gethner, portland, 2011-06-23 21:50:03
i am embarrassed that the city i live in is so brazenly ignorant with all the HIV/AIDS information that is offered here. i will be following up on this in every way i can...what a waste of energy, money, and reinstilling false information to everyone as this article has been covered all over...

Anonymous, , 2011-06-23 15:56:44
JT - The AP article doesn't use "HIV" but it does mention "AIDS"

jose, hollywood, 2011-06-23 14:36:37
Goes to show you how stupid and ignorant people are.2011 and the people are worst than ever.

Daniel, Berea, KY, 2011-06-23 14:34:31
Amazing! Animals are peeing and pooping in the reservoir all the time! What foolishness!

Charlie A., MD, Miami, FL, 2011-06-23 14:17:11
That's what I call a real stupidity!!. How come a simple act of piss in a RESERVOIR could transmit HIV or Chlamidia???. 8 millions of gallons can dilute practically ANYTHING you drop on it!!. That was a real waste of time and resources!!. Really, where did those "health professionals" study??!!.