"You would think we live in deep rural Jamaica," says principal Fredricka Fairclough, in reference to the dire water situation at the school for the 32 years she has been teaching there.

"We had drums to hold rainwater or we dispatched auxiliary staff to the canal or to the White Marl Taino Midden and Museum to catch water," Fairclough reflected with a chuckle as she outlined how they got water over the years.

The tanks on the other building of the school would get some water, but only a trickle would reach the block housing the principal's office, staffroom and administrative area.

All this has changed with the installation of a 1.5-horsepower pump and a 52-gallon air pressure water tank, during the summer holidays, donated by the Spanish Town Branch of Jamaica National Building Society. The Member Advisory Council at the branch undertook the project at a cost of $150,934.00 with funds from the JNBS Foundation.

High water pressure

"Now, when you go to the bathroom, the water pressure is so high every time you turn the tap on you get wet," the principal laughs with delight. "Even the chairman got his pants wet when he went to the bathroom to wash his hands and he jokingly said he did not care how anyone wants to think he got it wet, as the joy of finally having forceful water pressure is worth any teasing," she added.

The novelty of having water constantly in the pipe has not worn off, over a month after school reopened, so every time a staff member goes into the bathroom a comment of wonder is heard.