Dear Editor,

In the last two days, four of Stanford’s decorative fountains were soaped.  Although soaping fountains is not a new prank, as the campus manager for Water Conservation I’d like to remind those who soap fountains that this activity wastes our valuable resources. Soaped fountains have to be drained and flushed, wasting water, and staff have to be taken off other tasks to clean up the fountains and associated plumbing.  Stanford has many beautiful fountains for all to enjoy, but when they are soaped they have to be turned off for draining and cleaning. Please spread the message: “Do not soap fountains!”

Margaret Laporte

Associate Director of Utilities for Environmental Quality and Water Conservation