That Sinking Feeling

Whoever installed this bathroom sink unit did not use it to wash hands, nor did they use it to rinse out a washcloth. It’s very shallow and the spout is toward the back of the basin. The water inevitably spills onto the back counter, and the washcloth half dangles in the dirty water that hasn’t drained from the shallow sink.

And this entire awful design flaw is not worth talking about until I realize it’s installed in every guest room at this 450-room-plus hotel. How did this happen? How could a mistake like this happen on such a grand scale? How many people used this sink and thought it was functional [which it isn’t], but rather they didn’t speak up, “Whatever, I’m just installing, won’t be staying at this hotel anyway.” 

I think of the materials wasted. The time it took to install. The cost. The unnecessary wiping around the sink each time. How the user — of this thing that it was designed for — was ignored. 

But the parts are actually fine, right? Good widespread faucet, solid granite countertop, okay-for-washing-small-hands-only sink. Someone just screwed up on the assembly. There should be a guideline that a faucet must be installed so the water flows out at a minimum of three inches from the back edge of the sink.

This whole thing makes me think about a bad curriculum that ends up on students’ desks. How did this happen? How could a mistake like this happen on such a grand scale?