“Soaping” Prank Makes Mess for City of UP
Pranksters poured dish soap into the Shaddock Park fountain at the corner of Lovers Lane and Preston Road the weekend of March 8, causing a clean-up headache for the city of University Park.
“Soaping” can severely damage a fountain’s pump motors and filtration system. When soap is added to the fountain, city staff need to shut off the pumps, fully drain the fountain, clean it, and then refill it to prevent long-term harm, explained University Park community information officer Paige Ruedy.
“We kindly ask the community to refrain from adding soap or any other substances to the fountains,” she said in an email message. “While it may seem like a harmless prank, the process disrupts operations and also leads to costly repairs. If you ever notice suspicious activity around the fountains, please don’t hesitate to report it.”
