Imagine it is 8:30 a.m. and your hands are full of chemicals as you hurry through your chemistry lab. You are about to clean some test tubes, but when you pull the faucet, no water exits the nozzle. This is the slightly dangerous situation some students found themselves in on Oct. 13 when the school’s water was shut off due to improper functioning, a problem that first developed last year. The water was again turned off on Oct. 20 because the pressure decreased to practically nothing. Further problems developed on Oct. 22 when the pipes began to leak and the water was again shut off many times to try to fix the issues.

The Schreiber Times commends administrators for responding swiftly each time the water had to be turned off. The problems were identified as they arose, Assistant Principal Mr. David Miller assessed the situation with the plumbers, and Principal Mr. Ira Pernick and other administrators were informed. Mr. Pernick then sent an email to parents and made an announcement informing them that students could be escorted to the Weber All Purpose Room to use the bathroom. Water bottles were also available for students and teachers.

Although the water was quickly restored, there is still not enough pressure to support the entire school. By asking students and teachers to conserve water and only use the water on the ground and first floors, administrators reduce the distance the water has to travel and increase the pressure. We at The Times believe that these restrictions are difficult to follow, especially if they are prolonged. The only way to fully restore the water pressure is to fix the problem, which the plumber strongly believes is an old water meter. A new part has since been ordered. Once it arrives some new pipes must be ordered and all of the parts must be set up when the school is empty. The time frame for the fix has not yet been decided on.

Because addressing the water pressure problems has already been delayed from when they began last year, The Schreiber Times encourages administration to set a schedule and be as speedy as possible in the process of fixing the pipes.