The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-10-04
Water Supply For
Maui High School
Is Real Problem
Matter Taken Up By Parents
Teachers Association Is
Proven One of General
Public Interest.

PUBLIC interest.
Public interest has been consider
ably aroused and some Indignation
has been expressed that the children
of the Maui Grammar and High School
are drinking "ditch water" This
became generally known Following
the meeting of the Parents-Teachers
Association at the school last week
when the subject came up for con-
sideration. 1t is proposed that parents
be assessed 20 cents month Tor
each child attending the school so
that distilled water and paper cups
may be purchased and supplied the
children.
Truth About Supply
Facts as to the water supply at the
school are that the same water is
supplied to the school as to the
houses of residents of Hamakuapoko
but taht most of the residents Doll
the water they use. 1t comes from
a covered ditch and is taken out at
a point far beyond where there are
houses. When there are rains the
surface water flows into the ditch and
although generally the supply is con
sidered fairly safe and sanitary II
was not given a clean bill because 1t
is possible for cattle to get into the
water shed and when an inspection
was made at one time dead COW
was found within the fenced enclos-
ure.
Another report says there are
houses along the ditch which is open
in places and in some instances, cloth
ing is washed in the ditch.
In the past Mrs. f. F. Baldwin pur-
chased supply of distilled water for
the school but as time went on the
attendance increased and made such
generosity an expensive matter. TO
ward the close of last year she told
the principal of her intention to DIS,
continue the practice and he notified
the department of public instruction
At the opening of the. school year
Mr.. Judd went up Maliko gulch tc
one of the purest of springs and
brought water from it to the school
The children did not like the spring
water and since then have had the
piped water.
Possible Remedies
Inquiry from the county engineer
shows there is no other water sup
ply available. A reasonably priced
filtration plan would cost about $lOOl
but there is not always sufllcien'
pressure from the taps to operate
such a filtration plant successfully
A distilling plant would be more cost
ly for installation and operation anC
money for either would have to come
from the general tax fund Even filter
ed water is not sure preventive o.
typhoid fever in case germs got into
the water shed, only boiling or dis
tilling of water being absolutely
preventive. 1t has been proposed
that water be boiled for the children
in the school kitchen but the princi
pal says it is impracticable. 1t is es
timated that the cost of purchasins
distilled water and drinking cups will
be about $50 a month.
The question then develops as tt
whether the parents of the children
shall pay for the furnishing of dis
titled water or whether the problem
shall be solved at hte expense OF al
of the taxpayers of the county. While
admitting that the supply is not al
that is to be d sired it is pointed ou
that some Ol LID fuiolc ichio'C oShooi'
have nothing nearly equal to it, al
for instance Halehaku school. Some
of the schools depend almost solel!
on rain water and are left withou
supply when there are dry periods
If the county furnishes distilled wa
ter for Maui High and Grammar
school it is not clear why similar
supply should not be purchased TO
other schools as well.
Little Difference Seen
Others point out that the only diff
ference they see between the Hama
kuapoko supply and other sources
including Wailuku and Lahaina, i:
that the water shed is not so wei
protected against encroachment o
cattle and there are more cattle il
the vicinity of it to encroach and thu
water is taken from an artificial ditcl
instead of from a natural stream
through pipes into a reservoir.
The Maliko spring water that wa
offered the children is reported t
have been examined and found to b'
absolutely free from delsteTious mat
ter.
A suggestion is made that pipe b.
run from a spring in the gulch to thu
school by the county.
The problem as it comes to th'
county is that if a start is made a
the High School in furnishing distill
ed or filtered water, where is it t,
end?
--s$xs-