Water availability in Scituate High School seems archaic compared to the new innovations used in other schools and workplaces worldwide. It is no secret that the water fountains at SHS are not that refreshing cold burst of H2O that students need, and many do not want to pay $1.25 for the water from the vending machines.  Subsequently, Scituate High School is looking at new ideas to make water more accessible and to make the school more environmentally sound.

Assistant Principal, Mr. Mills, said that a few years ago, Ms. Nuzzo-Mueller had goals to make our building more green, and looked to the Environmental club and passionate teachers for ways to make the building more eco-friendly. They explored ideas like more recycling opportunities in the cafeteria, which has worked well so far, and administration is continuing with these ideas this year.

With the start of the 2012-2013 school year, the administration is looking into new water fountains for the school that would refill students’ water bottles with cold, purified water. The company, Bluedrop, filters and chills water in vending machine sized units. This new feature is expected to present an affordable option to buying water and help the school’s “green initiative.”

“We’re still looking into the fairest way to pay,” said Mr. Mills, explaining why the machines have not yet been installed.

Administration is currently debating whether the machine would charge 50 cents for 20 ounces of water, or if another whole system will be implemented into SHS. Mr. Mills said that a “swipe-card” system may be more practical. The idea is that a student’s ID would serve as recognition that the student attends SHS, and then water could be free, with the swipe of a card.

The swipe is accessible and very 21st century, making it easier to sign out a library book, fill up your Camelback, or sign out of study last block. Administration is even considering selling “SHS” bottles at the school store that can be filled up.  “The only issue holding us up now is getting the student ID company and the water company to agree on coding (for the student ID swipe cards)” Mr. Mills said.

To see student reaction, the school would start with one machine. The location is still to be determined but somewhere more central than the cafeteria seems more practical for student use.

Junior Olivia Neagle is more than supportive of the latest environmentally conscious addition to SHS. “When can we have it?!” she said, “I would be obsessed; I would love that so much! I have to live off of my one water bottle per day. I hate refilling it here.”

The good news is that it is a fairly easy installation. “I’m hoping that one Monday you guys will come in and it will be here,” Mr. Mills says.

Drink that up SHS.