According to officials, an employee at the Donaldsonville water plant was fired after being caught on video surveillance urinating into the water supply.

The authorities were alerted to the incident on Wednesday, March 22, and by 2:45 p.m. that same day, the employee was terminated and arrested by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The employee was identified as Michael Mastin, 57, and was charged with two counts of contaminating water supplies and two counts of criminal damage to critical infrastructure, BR Proud reported.

As soon as Parish President Clint Cointment was informed of the illegal act, an investigation was launched, and the report was deemed credible. Mastin was promptly fired and taken into custody.

However, Cointment reassured the public that the incident did not pose any danger to their health. He emphasized in a news release that all water samples taken thus far meet safe drinking water requirements and are in good condition.

Written by staff