Hydrating students with bottled water
First thing yesterday morning youngsters from Devon Intermediate School were lining up in the school’s foyer to get their 1.5 litres of free water.
Most schools and early childhood centres in the New Plymouth district opened again yesterday after having to close last week when a tree smashed into a water pipe and cut supply to 25 per cent of the district.
A boil water order, which remains in place, was imposed on most of the district because of cross connections between reservoirs.
Every day this week nearly 100 schools and early childhood centres will receive bottles of water, an initiative organised by the Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.
The group will pay for the water and delivery, but the total cost is not yet known, a spokesman said.
Volunteers from New Plymouth District Council and Land Search and Rescue are helping load the bottles.
Devon Intermediate principal Jenny Gellen said the delivery provided 1.5 litres of water for each child and staff member.
‘‘It’s awesome. It’s really, really good, because although we say bring your boiled water inevitably after interval they’ve drunk their boiled water and start getting thirsty.’’
The school always had soap in the toilet areas and had bought hand sanitisers for staff to hand out to kids if they think they needed it, she said.
‘‘And we’ve tied off all the drinking fountains, so they can’t be accessed.’’