Quenching Thirst and Washing Hands: The Mystery of the Ever-Running Tap

It’s 1993. I am at KNUST Primary School. It is the best public school in Kumasi. In the middle of the school is a standing pipe.

When are are thirsty, we go and get some water to drink. When we need to wash our hands, we use it. When we need to clean our feet after playing in the sand, we use.

Whenever I go to get some water to drink the tap is always running.

Whenever I pass by the tap is always running.

I don’t understand this. I asked my teacher why is the tap always running when nobody is using it.

He replied, “The government pays the bills”