Drip, drip, drop... and the tap is running.

Third-graders from Minot Forest Elementary School got out of the classroom and into the woods Wednesday to learn how the water gets from the wild to their faucets.

"It goes 75 feet underground, then it goes to the water tower, and then goes all the way to our house," third-grader Adam Weisberg explained.

In addition to seeing the Maple Spring well field and the surrounding woods, students saw the "minimal treatment plant," where water is treated with chlorine to disinfect it, and lime to reduce the acidity before it's sent to the water towers.

Michael Martin, superintendent of the Wareham Fire District's Water Department, explained how he and his staff monitor the water levels from computers installed in the well.

"I can see on a daily basis how the water rises and falls," Martin explained. "If I didn't think it would scare the living bejesus out of you, I would start the well up."

After some insistent assurances that the bejesus would not be scared out of them, Martin ushered most of the class outside, and let one student turn the well on with just the push of a button, creating a loud rumbling as the engine got started.

On the walk through the woods, the kids spotted a turtle, and Martin picked it up and explained that it was an Eastern box turtle. The kids shouted out plenty of ideas for names:

"Lexie!"

"Yertle!"

"Percy Jackson!"

Martin let the kids take a look at the little guy before setting him free again, telling them that Lexie Yertle Percy Jackson would be much happier in his or her natural habitat.

The students also spotted a lady slipper and two Osprey nests on their trek.

Martin said he was happy to take the kids on a tour of the woods and tell them about aquifers, wells and water towers.

"It's a good thing for them to come out, see what the environment looks like," said Martin.

Interested in seeing how drinking water gets from point A to point B on a tour of the area?

"We'd be more than happy to take any civic group or community group that comes out here," Martin said.

To contact the Water Department, call 508-295-0450.