Water sanitation problems seem like a third-world country problem, but they happen everywhere in America. Take for example Flint, Michigan, whose water crisis has been going on for years thanks to contaminated taps. What about those who cannot afford to replace their old, rusting pipes, thus using tinted water to brush their teeth?

   They even happen close to home, as such is the case with the New Jersey city of Newark, starting back in June and escalating in October. Unfortunately, lead service lines contaminated the tap water throughout the city. The tested water had up to one hundred and eighty-two parts per billion.

   The United States Environmental Protection Agency claims that, in order to update our water systems around the country, an estimated $743 billion need to be spent. Entire towns, with populations significantly smaller than Newark or Flint, need their pipes and facilities redone.

   Water sanitation should never be something students should be concerned about when using the facilities at school, though the strife in Newark is more than enough to kindle worry.

   Thankfully, Eastern students can rest easy knowing that our water systems are safe. Before it even travels to our hallways, the water is tested and delivered by American Water, located just an intersection away from Eastern. On their website, they claim that, “We hold ourselves to the highest standards in delivering safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water…” In last year’s report, the amount of lead topped at exactly fifteen ppb, meeting the legal standards.

   Once the water arrives at Eastern, the Director of Buildings and Grounds oversees it. The Director, Mr. Judge, has been managing our water for ten years now, and when asked if he takes pride in our water system, he replied with a resounding “Yes.” Aside from managing the custodians and maintenance work on our school’s property, Mr. Judge also single-handedly decided on the installation of our new bottle refilling stations put in place last summer.

   When asked how our water quality and cleanliness compared to other schools in New Jersey, Mr. Judge stated that we, “Compare very well with very little issues,” and those that do pop up are quickly quelled, such as the incident where the water in the 300 hallways ran orangish-red. Though suspension among the student body was on the pipes, the tint was actually due to the old water stored in fire hydrants being flushed out, and simply had to be run until the clarity returned.

   So rest assured and refill those water bottles, as Eastern’s water is well within the standards. More of the updated fountains are actually on their way in, and a total of six will be placed in certain spots around the school once the piping system is updated to accommodate them.