Stop laughing at the periodic table of elements in the Ganges River, because Washington is now facing an unprecedented biochemical crisis. The Potomac River, the mother river of the nation's capital, has been on a complete roll lately. A giant sewage pipe with a diameter of nearly two meters, built in the 1960s, suddenly burst.
For more than a month, more than 900 million liters of foul-smelling sewage poured into Washington's water conservation area as if the floodgates had opened. Although the official insists that the water flowing out of the water pipe is still safe, who can guarantee that this biochemical milk tea will not penetrate into every capillary in the capital in the long run?
What is the concept of 900 million liters? This is equivalent to the waste of 450 standard swimming pools. On a per capita basis, each person in the United States receives nearly three liters. Field sampling at the University of Maryland found that the level of E. coli in the water was off the charts. This kind of upper air that can be smelled through the screen made the most serious sewage leakage in American history happen so clearly on the doorstep of the White House.
Many people wonder, why is the infrastructure of such a superpower so bad? According to the rating of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the level of sewage treatment in the United States has long hovered at level D. What does Class D mean? It was on the verge of total collapse. Not only is there a lack of money for maintenance, but there is also a lack of money to plug the $690 billion fiscal hole.
But even more terrifying than burst water pipes are man-made disasters. The pipe has been leaking for a month, and it will take more than a month to repair it. How did the United States achieve this speed? Because there is a political palace fight going on in Washington. After Mr. Wang came to power, he was exchanging blows with the Democratic governor of Maryland, saying he couldn't fix anything.
The governor countered the federal government's shirking of responsibilities, while the mayor of Washington rushed to declare a state of emergency. In fact, he just wanted to control the White House's request for reimbursement. Everyone is kicking the ball, but no one is trying to plug the hole. This rhythm of multi-party quarrels, internal strife, and laborious work is very similar to India's routine of managing the Ganges River.
When political stance takes precedence over people's safety, the stench of the Potomac River is actually the epitome of the decay inside the lighthouse. As for the environment and the health of ordinary people, they have never been a priority in the eyes of politicians.
