On Friday, a water fountain at the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. got backed up and overflowed with black sewage.
Employees at the agency were alerted via email that morning:
There is a water line back up in the William Jefferson Clinton North Building that is causing the hallway water fountains to leak throughout the building in the 400 and 500 Corridors. [General Services Administration] is working this issue right now. There is no estimated time for resolution.
It didn't take long for a photo of the leak to make its way to Twitter:
A water fountain at the EPA backed up and started spewing sewage into the hallway https://t.co/ct1LtxAO2M https://t.co/WdZVVlNt5O— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire)1513357361.0
Not the Onion. We repeat, this is not the Onion.
@JeffreyGuterman Indeed. From the E&E story linked above: https://t.co/DPKoQCtXbQ— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire)1513360660.0
Needless to say, Twitter had a field day with this revelation, which seemed to many to be a perfect reflection of the moment we're in.
@hornedepot @RobertMaguire_ https://t.co/zKJRbFCmZJ— Brain in a Jar (@Brain in a Jar)1513361184.0
The image all too perfectly sums up not only the current U.S. administration, but also the rot that presently pervades the EPA. Trump-appointed administrator Scott Pruitt, who previously undermined and fought against the protections and regulations instututed by the EPA during his tenure as Attorney General of Oklahoma, is now dismantling them from the inside.
@RobertMaguire_ A metaphor for the current administration— Diana ❤️🇺🇸❤️ (@Diana ❤️🇺🇸❤️)1513361364.0
@kachelme1 @RobertMaguire_ @RTMannJr Don't worry, once we get rid of ALL regulations everything will be great. Prof… https://t.co/pePIo2xiMN— Rogue Tortoise 🐢 (@Rogue Tortoise 🐢)1513361652.0
A sign of things to come?
The flooded fountain is perhaps a prophecy of the EPA's doom.
@RobertMaguire_ @ProgressOfAKind the future of deregulation at the Environmental Protection Agency— Libra63TxGC #45 IS GUILTY AS HELL (@Libra63TxGC #45 IS GUILTY AS HELL)1513358651.0
But don't worry, Pruitt himself will not be affected by the worsened drinking water conditions. At least he'll be able to afford the bottled water.
@GJMasterton @RobertMaguire_ No need. He's building a highly secure water fountain where he can drink in private.— Eugene Hunt (@Eugene Hunt)1513370110.0
Isn't it ironic?
This is your EPA on Trump.
@K_Geezy74 @RobertMaguire_ Irony at it's finest— Sharron Smiley® (@Sharron Smiley®)1513363131.0
The symbolism is a little too on the nose. Seems subtlety was thrown out the window with the bath water a long time ago.
@RobertMaguire_ It's official. The Universe has officially given up on subtlety.— Robb Badlam (@Robb Badlam)1513366355.0
The very definition of karma at its finest.
@RobertMaguire_ https://t.co/tEUM0aGbPy— Candi 🇺🇸☮️🗣 (@Candi 🇺🇸☮️🗣)1513361825.0
And sometimes you need a cartoonist to eloquently sum up the ridiculousness of our country's actions in the grand scheme of things.
@RobertMaguire_ Cleanups are a waste of money. No people at EPA, only faceless bureaucrats. Let them drink bottled… https://t.co/eT6OGkugyl— James McRitchie (@James McRitchie)1513367054.0
Remember this guy from FernGully?
@RobertMaguire_ https://t.co/MZ7wE75KVb— Adrian (@Adrian)1513360504.0
This is just the beginning.
The Trump administration is all about deregulation, not just the EPA, but the internet, health care, education, and anti-discrimination policies.
@RobertMaguire_ @kcm74 Don't worry though; I'm sure we can count on the government to do a better job regulating th… https://t.co/zObxRvuAoU— Dan Minkoff (@Dan Minkoff)1513365330.0
We have a new, more appropriate use of the "EPA" acronym.
@RobertMaguire_ Environmental Poo Agency— leewah (@leewah)1513360244.0
We wonder what Pruitt will use to clean up this mess?
@Perronaldinho @RobertMaguire_ Oh wait! I think we might have some paper lying about... https://t.co/DFoBNGOnxm— Staydoll (@Staydoll)1513361260.0
The sludge was eventually cleaned up by early afternoon, according to E&E. Apparently, this isn't the first issue the building has had with its drinking fountains, which have been known to emit "odd smells."
Offered a former EPA official:
“I can’t imagine that anyone would actually drink out of those drinking water fountains. I think I used it to pour my coffee down.”
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h/t: Twitter