More About Capitol Hill Toilet Protocol

Nick Gillespie | April 6, 2007

As long as we're talking about Capitol Hill bathrooms, let me share a pic I snapped in the Cannon Building's men's room just yesterday (I was there to talk--in the building, not the men's room per se, honest--with a congressional staffer about upcoming legislative issues).

I don't know if this is a relic of an untold element of the Mark Foley scandal, a continuing problem with current Hill folks, a disturbing evaluation of DC drinking water, or what. But I do find it an odd sign.

 

Comments

|4.6.07 @ 2:51PM|#

Don't eat the cakes either.

|4.6.07 @ 2:54PM|#

I applaud them for trying to save taxpayers money - every gulp of water you take is $$$ out of my wallet!

Pete Guither|4.6.07 @ 2:55PM|#

Probably has more to do with the deteriorating infrastructure -- rusted or lead pipes that aren't bad enough to require immediate fixing, but provide less than optimum drinking water.

Disco Boy|4.6.07 @ 3:10PM|#

be careful taking pictures amongst our men of best quality

if the praetorians "caught" you...

Guy Montag|4.6.07 @ 3:22PM|#

That is a really close second for stupid bathroom signs.

Still, my winner was from back in the 1990s over the sinks in SETAC airport: "Preserve Fresh Water"

The were nice looking red anodized metal signs, securly attached above each sink.

In the only place I have yet been that gets rain about 360 days per year!

|4.6.07 @ 3:23PM|#

This is obviously a campaign to oppress the freedom-loving dogs of America.

|4.6.07 @ 3:25PM|#

DC has an ongoing issue with lead in the water. They probably don't want congressfolk to kill their last few remaining brain cells.

Scooby|4.6.07 @ 3:31PM|#

They might be using greywater or other non-potable water in for toilet flushing. That sort of signage is required when using non-potable water for toilet flushing- even for flush valve fixtures (those without tanks).

Sign makes some sense when using non-potable water with flush tank fixtures (water stored in the tank could conceivably be used for drinking in an emergency), but not with flush valve fixtures. Blame the plumbing code and the overly fearful engineers, plumbers & building officials that write it.

Guy Montag|4.6.07 @ 3:31PM|#

This is obviously a campaign to oppress the freedom-loving dogs of America.

The dogs on The Hill are frequently there through elections, rarely there through internships and regular hiring.

VM|4.6.07 @ 3:37PM|#

was that George Michael in the background?

Russ 2000|4.6.07 @ 3:38PM|#

That sort of signage is required when using non-potable water for toilet flushing

Okay, but I assume most people ingesting restroom water are consuming it from the sinks, not the biscuit barrel. Is greywater OK to wash your hands in? Some people DO brush their teeth in public restrooms.

Guy Montag|4.6.07 @ 3:42PM|#

Since there is no sign for carrying the DC definition of a machine gun in there old Thompson and his boss Webb should have sought refuge in the john.

|4.6.07 @ 3:55PM|#

Tonight on tv news:

Man in leather jacket arrested after being caught taking pictures in the Men's Room.

|4.6.07 @ 3:58PM|#

Ahoy, Nick!

|4.6.07 @ 4:10PM|#

The dogs on The Hill are frequently there through elections, rarely there through internships and regular hiring.

Point taken.

Scooby|4.6.07 @ 4:39PM|#

Is greywater OK to wash your hands in? Some people DO brush their teeth in public restrooms.No, greywater is not OK to pipe to the lavatories. I was just offering one non-obvious explanation. I am not about to try to comprehend the thinking behind it- madness lies that way.

|4.6.07 @ 4:46PM|#

If unpotables are outlawed, only outlaws will go potty.

Occupant|4.6.07 @ 4:54PM|#

The tragedy of the common bathroom.

|4.6.07 @ 6:28PM|#

I see a government-supported monopoly, and a blatant attempt to eliminate competition. Big Bottle is behind this, I just know it.

|4.6.07 @ 6:38PM|#

"What? You mean water from the toilet?"

|4.6.07 @ 6:40PM|#

It's because of the lead in the water; I work at the Library of Congress and even though we've known for the last 15 years that lead levels were too high they just realized two years ago that the Library IS IN DC!
So they've put up those stupid signs in all of the restrooms and contracted with some company to provide water coolers on all floors, so don't get excited aboout it doing anything but COSTING you, the taxpayer. The best part is that if you want to change out an empty water jug for a new one the sign says to call the Architect of the Capitol, who I guess will send out a minion to replace the jug (when they aren't too busy inventing new ways to make Jersey barriers and security bollards look pretty...

|4.6.07 @ 7:04PM|#

The place I work has signs in all the bathrooms that read, "Do not eat or drink in bathroom". I can't send a picture because no cameras are allowed on company property. It's a chemical plant.

|4.6.07 @ 8:59PM|#

I used to work in Philadelphia public schools. After a study showed a high concentration of lead in the pipes, the school district's fix was to paint bright red signs which read "DANGER: Do Not Drink" over every spigot. A friendly reminder that your school wants you dehydrated, not lead poisoned.

It must have worked. Test scores went up the next year.

|4.6.07 @ 10:56PM|#

I noticed (and was puzzled by) this when I did research at the Library of Congress last year. Thanks for the explanation, Bryan.

|4.7.07 @ 12:44AM|#

One of my coworkers took this picture in the Tennessee Department of Revenue offices.

http://www.omarzaki.com/images/sign.jpg

Go government.

|4.7.07 @ 11:36AM|#

Yeah, welcome to the rest of the world.

|4.7.07 @ 2:13PM|#

Running water in the outhouse?
Here in south Alabam we have heared of such.
Rich gubmint assholes.

Eric Dondero|4.9.07 @ 8:08AM|#

What I'm about to say is gross. (Parents hide your little kiddies.)

And let me preface this by saying I'm just as Pro-Immigrant as the next libertarian.

But before we let more illegals into our country, we need some sort of MANDATORY Bathroom etiqutte course for them.

C'mon, everyone of you knows what I am talking about here:

The habit of those South of the Border to roll up their used toilet paper in the stalls, and throw it in a wastepaper basket, and if none is available to just throw it on the floor.

I lived in Mexico for many months.

They do not have the same advanced plumbing that we do. It's all septic tanks. Thus, they got apeshit if you are caught throwing your used toilet paper in the toilet.

They are unaware when they come here that we do have advanced plumbing. But they still cling to their old ways.

I suggest some sort of booklet we hand out to them in Brownsville, El Paso, Yuma, and San Diego explaining to the "recien llegados" new arrivals, of proper US bathroom etiquette.

Perhaps they'd have less resentment against them by Middle Americans, if they just learned this very simple fact about the US and our customs.

Occupant|4.9.07 @ 4:36PM|#

because no cameras are allowed on company property.

Do they check eveyone's cell phones every day, too?