Staples water fountains have long been derided for their
inconsistency, warmness, and overall poor taste. In a recent study by Inklings,
only 48% of Staples water fountains were found to have a cool or cold
temperature, and only 30% of water fountains were found to have good to great
flow. Only 18% of water fountains have the ideal combination of great flow and
cold temperature.

Staples students backed up these statistics.

“Waterfountains at Staples are very inconsistent. Some taste like spring water while
some are just unpleasant,” said Jason Chaskin ’14.

Chaskin’s statements were echoed by David Mathis ’13.

“There are fountains in the school that are colder than others and it’s kind of annoying sometimes,” Mathis said.

This lack of consistency in the fountains has led many students to buy water from the
cafeteria.

Even though the majority of Staples water fountains are inconsistent and bad, there are four that stand out as exceptionally good: The tall one near the Staples Insignia, the tall one near room 1054, and both
fountains near the cafeteria. Each of these has been rated as having good to
great flow and cool to cold temperature.

Three of the four have problems though. Both fountains near
the cafeteria often have gum in them, or something else that was once in a
person’s mouth. The tall fountain near room 1054 is commonly used and in a
corner which is difficult to maneuver into. The tall fountain near the Staples
insignia doesn’t have the problems of the other three fountains. For this
reason the tall fountain near the Staples insignia is my favorite fountain in
the entire school and the one I recommend the most if you have a thirst to
quench. Below are my ratings of every fountain’s temperature and flow.