Editor’s note: Wellesley Middle School Social Studies students as part of a Civics Action Project have this week taken over The Swellesley Report‘s letters-to-the-editor page. The students are well-versed in their topics, have carefully researched all angles, and are ready to present their opinions to the community. Thank you to the WMS Social Studies teachers for organizing this community-based project.
To the editor:
The standards for the health and well-being of Wellesley Middle School students are currently inadequate. The primary culprit is none other than what makes up 70% of their bodies: water. In response to numerous complaints regarding the taste of drinking fountain water, our team has tested fountains around the building with a homeowner’s testing kit and discovered potential traces of lead, copper, and nickel within the drinking water. We also conducted a survey, which revealed that nearly half of respondents rarely or never feel comfortable drinking the school water. Furthermore, only 30% would choose to drink fountain water when thirsty during the day, while a staggering ⅓ of respondents would prefer to become dehydrated than drink from a school fountain. During our interview with WMS nurse Kris Gusmini, she confirmed that many students come to the nursing office with fatigue, headaches, and dizziness, which can be signs of dehydration.
The root problem lies within Wellesley’s general water supply and Wellesley Middle School’s pipes. Wellesley’s water is hard, causing an unpleasant taste, and corrosion in pipes. An additional factor is the original pipes, many of which date back to the 1950s when the building was first opened. These pipes contribute to the metallic taste that many students complain about.
We urge teachers or staff to begin flushing out the water fountains every morning to refresh the system after the water sits in the pipes all night. Students may also contribute to this themselves, by flushing out the water for 30-seconds if it seems the fountain has been unused. Next, we propose adding a commercial-grade water softener in the form of a brine tank. Usually, these tanks are big enough to support a building of this size, but there are also double-tank systems which could be implemented. This would improve water quality, and will extend the lifespan of facilities. Another change that we are pushing for to occur in the near future is for every fountain in the school to have a filtered bottle-filling station. Through our survey, we found that kids prefer these bottle-fillers over the less-appetizing water from spigots. Finally, as the existing middle school building approaches the end of its lifespan, our team urges future decision makers to prioritize the quality of water students will receive. This would mean taking extra steps such as a brine tank and using piping that minimizes mineral leaching and is up to the current plumbing best practices.
Hydration has been proven to heighten mood, as well as focus, which increases overall academic excellence. We encourage school officials, parents, and Town Meeting members to work together to craft new school water policies and plans to maximize student health and well-being. The Wellesley school system has always had a glimmering reputation, and our team is determined to preserve this reputation by making our school the best it can be.
We appreciate your attention and urge you to support our cause.
Ariel Wu
Iris Hawkins
Lehne Batka
Lucy Matheson,
