Sprinklers soak students, sidewalks and shrubbery. PHOTO/Serena Elavia ‘10

Students around the Choate campus have come to accept the battery of water from the garden hose fed sprinklers on the Mem Field side of the Humanities building. The water in being used is only part of a massive irrigation system that the Choate facilities take care of.

Supporting Fields

The irrigations system supports many of the athletic fields, the front of Humanities, Sally Hart Lodge, and the PMAC. Dave Seitlinger, plumbing supervisor, explained that the irrigation system’s main goal every year is to keep both the new and old grass healthy from year to year. According to Seitlinger, the sprinkler systems began intensive watering “in the spring and continues over the summer until about October”. According to Leslie Sundell, Facilities Office Manager, 365 days of irrigation at Choate in 2005-2006 school year cost the school $32,033.92 by using 1,056,166 gallons of water. When the winter season approaches, facilities attempts to blow out the water from the underground irrigation systems using pressurized air. This pressurized air keeps the underground pipes from freezing over the winter. Seitlinger explained that Choate tries its best to water “at the preferred times of Wallingford”. The irrigation systems usually begin in the early morning because the grass is most receptive to the water.

Humanities Gets Sprinkled

The garden hose sprinklers have been set up on the eastern side of Humanities to foster healthy growth in the newly planted grass. Seitlinger said that the new grass near Humanities and across Christian street is a result of the reforming of the paths this summer. From a student’s perspective, the water seems to be an obstacle that needs dodging all day. Seitlinger mentioned that the watering schedule of both the irrigation system and the garden hoses are on a timer. According to Seitlinger, the person in charge of setting the timer is Jeff Carter, Assistant Manager of Grounds. The students of Choate did not seem to have an opinion on the regular irrigation system. However, many of them had very strong feelings towards the garden hose sprinklers.

Students React

Brian McDermott ’08 feels that the “sprinklers are watering the path half the time and the other half of the time the students are being watered.” Many students can be seen dodging the water each day on their way into Humanities. McDermott also said, “I do think Facilities has a good sense of humor because I like to watch kids try to dodge the water.” John Fleming Ball ’08 also dislikes the sprinklers. Ball said, “I absolutely hate being damp when I get to class.” Other students, such as M.E. Hawkins ’09, also detest the garden hoses stating, “Running from the water is so stressful and it takes my mind off of a test or quiz I just studied for.

Green isn’t Consistant

Sixth former, Blake Gruber ’08 said, “I do not like the extensive use of the water because it does not seem to be accomplishing anything.” Some of the grass seems to be a strong green color, but many students have notices the lack of color in other places such a Memorial field. Rebecca Marber ’09 thought that the sprinklers should “be placed on other parts of campus to create an entire campus of green, not just a small portion of it.” Over the course of this fall, the mobile sprinklers do not seem to be evenly placed around campus. With the winter approaching quickly, It should be interesting to watch the sprinklers on campus and then what their effect next spring.