Sabine Kanz

Due to a generous donation of $6,000, Granite Bay High School is replacing their water fountains.

The original water fountains were first installed when GBHS opened in 1996. After over twenty years of student usage, the fountains are being replaced.

Terry Smith, head of GBHS maintenance, mentioned that fountains tend to need repair due to their filters needing replacement and the water flow needing adjustment.

Angela Mahr, GBHS head custodian, also said that many of the fountains suffer from drainage issues due to students sitting on the water fountains or pouring items like “coffee, milk, food… (and) soup” down the drain. Students would sit on the water fountains, push on them, or place all their weight on them. The downward pressure would shift the pipes, thus placing them out of alignment and leading to a difficulty in draining.

“I’m always trying to clear the water,” Mahr said. “And it’s because (the pipes are) out of alignment.”

Water fountains by the 600s building and in the 900s building struggle with drainage the most. Mahr presumes this is because these fountains get the most use.

The benefactor, who requested to be anonymous, first approached the school around the end of August, with an interest in helping the school.

“I see all these kids going around with water bottles and having to tilt them at some ridiculous angle and only get them 30% of the way filled up,” the donor said. “I thought it would be good for kids to be able to quickly stop by and fill up their water bottles between classes and have it be convenient and easy.”

To address this difficulty, new Elkay water fountains will have a bottle filling station as well as the typical drinking fountain.

Overall, two water fountains were replaced, the ones located by the 600s building and ones located by the Wellness Center.