the standpipe

Before indoor plumbing became a commonplace thing island-wide, there was the roadside standpipe. The standpipe was a free public water supply, the main (often the only) source of piped water for many communities; folk would gather around it to collect water for their cooking, washing, bathing and other household chores.

You won't see standpipes in newer residential developments, ones that sprang up after it became the norm for each house to have their own connection to the water supply system; standpipes belong to the older communities and villages. The district where I live seems to have standpipes in unusual abundance — I have counted six so far, all within about a one-mile radius. And it's a rare morning where I don't see someone filling a bucket from at least one of these six, carrying water home to wash their car, or water their garden, or launder their clothes, or whatever else.

Standpipes in the rural parishes seem to get even heavier use. A friend of mine has a standpipe just outside his garden wall, and people regularly stop there on the way back from the beach at the bottom of the road, to wash the sand and salt from their feet and bodies. On drives through the country, I've seen young women bathing their babies at the standpipe, older women doing their household laundry, little children taking a bath (or at least taking the opportunity to splash as much water as possible at each other and all over the road), and Rasta-men shampooing their locks. One morning, out on a run before dawn, I saw a couple of guys bathing a horse at a standpipe — now that was an I wish I had my camera moment!

I'm a regular standpipe user myself: when I'm out on my morning runs, I try to plan my route so that I finish close to one (not hard, since there are so many!), so that I can cool down with a drink and some splashes of water on my face. Long live the standpipe, that most wonderful Barbadian public convenience!

Comments

[Elspeth]

I love Trinidad standpipes too, but the old time ones you still find out in the country (concrete stand and brass pipe) - not the modern ones (e.g. some with pvc piping) that don't have that old sturdy character.

[Lor]

I remember the standpipes in Jamaica. Some can still be found in many rural areas. They were the first water fountains where people met and shared the happenings.