5 Reasons Your School Needs a Water Bottle Filling Station

5 Reasons Your School Needs a Water Bottle Filling Station

So, you’ve had the ingenious idea to install a water bottle filling station at your school. That’s great! Now, you’ll need to convince your school to get on-board with the idea. That’s why we’ve distilled the benefits of bottle filling stations down to five key focus points.

After reading this article, you’ll be prepared to form an undeniable proposal that proves filtered water bottle filling stations help schools change the way students access and perceive water.

 

Let’s get started!

 

—01

Solution for Lead Contamination

A key benefit of filtered water bottle filling stations for schools is their ability to provide safe drinking water. The majority of stations use high-performance filters that remove common contaminants such as chlorine and lead. Elkay, one of the leading water bottle filling station manufacturers, offers filtered water bottle filling stations that remove, on average, 99.3 percent of lead from drinking water. In comparison to flushing, a practice where lead is manually pushed out of drains on a daily basis, and pipe remediation, a full removal of contaminated piping, filtered water bottle filling stations are more effective, efficient, and affordable than the alternatives.

—02

Better Tasting Water

All tap water is not created equal. Taste is a significant factor in people’s decision to choose tap versus bottled water. While one might think water fountains to be a solution to promoting the use of tap water, many models are unfortunately notorious for their lukewarm temperature and unsavory flavor. Filtered water bottle filling stations however are equipped with high-performance filters and cooling systems, making them capable of removing the usual culprits of unpleasant tasting water: chlorine and particulate. The stations purify water, making it taste crisp and clean. And regardless of whether they are stationed outside or indoors, they consistently deliver chilled water that instantly refreshes the palate. Ahh, now that’s good tasting water.

—03

Healthier Hydration

Childhood obesity currently affects around 17 percent of U.S. kids. So, why are schools continuing to invest their dollars in vending machines and sugary beverages instead of drinking stations? The health conditions currently affecting American youth make creating positive lifestyle changes, like drinking water, something schools need to prioritize. Swapping out soda for water is an easy way for young kids to form healthy habits and reduce their intake of unnecessary sugar. Safe, clean, and accessible water gives students greater incentive to hydrate more often, contributing to greater energy and productivity.

And fortunately, there are steps being made to implement more comprehensive childhood health initiatives into schools nationwide. Michelle Obama’s Water: You Are What You Drink campaign highlights the importance of water for developing minds and bodies. Similarly, the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act requires schools to have safe, accessible water options for their students. Filtered water bottle filling stations make it easy to comply with these mandates and give students the healthy drinking option they need.

—04

Reduced Waste

Although it’s true that bottled water is an easy way to implement drinking water into schools, the subscription, disposal, and long-term environmental costs paint a much bleaker picture. It’s estimated that 80 percent of plastic bottles end up in the dump, only to be burned or end up in a landfill. Filtered water bottle filling stations serve as an alternative to plastic water bottles through encouraging the use of tap water and making safe, healthy water free and accessible. Many stations also have built in water bottle counters that track the number of plastic water bottles the station has saved from use, acting as tangible proof of the station’s impact.

—05

Leading By Example

One of the most telling benefits of water bottle filling stations is their attention to sustainability.  Not only does this present a great opportunity for PR, it’s also an opportunity for youth leadership development around the topic of environmental sustainability. Students can help fundraise for filling stations, like Mike Fackler who raised $9,200 to go towards water bottle filling stations at Loveland High School. And once the bottle fillers are installed, the legacy lives on via Elkay’s “green ticker”—the part of the bottle filler that shows the number of plastic bottles stations saved. The University of Maryland is touting extremely impressive impact metrics, having saved 2,933,087 plastic water bottles from disposal.

So what are you waiting for? Check out our list of grants and funding options for water bottle filling stations and start the process today. And, as always, we’re only an email away at support@becausewater.com.

 

5 Ways to Test your Tap for Lead

5 Ways to Test your Tap for Lead

Is there lead in your tap water? Given the many health repercussions of lead-contaminated water, this can be a frightening question to encounter. The good news is that there are several options for determining the answer.

 

Here we’ve covered five ways that you can test your tap water for lead.

 

—01

Find A Lab Certified by the Department of Environmental Protection

One way to test your home’s water for lead, is to find a testing lab certified by your state’s Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP runs at the state level, while the EPA runs at federal level.*

Step 1:  Find a DEP-Certified lab near you by going to this EPA webpage. Simply choose your state from the drop-down menu, and you will then be directed to a list of DEP-certified labs in your state.

You can also find a lab by phone. Just call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Step 2: Pick up a sample container or request that the lab mail it to you.

You may be able to skip this step. Some labs allow you to use your own container while others will specify the size or simply advise you to use a clean, plastic bottle.

Step 3: See if your lab has any specific instructions on how the sample needs to be taken. Some labs can provide you with detailed instructions. Ask your lab if they can provide you with an informational pamphlet or email you instructions.

Step 4: Collect your sample first thing in the morning. In order to get an accurate reading of lead levels, the water in your pipes needs to have been stagnant for at least six hours. That means no running faucets, showers, or flushing the toilet for at least six hours beforehand. This will reveal if the pipes inside of your home are made from lead.

Some labs will ask for a second sample to be taken after the first pre-flush sample. This should be taken after the water has been running for a few minutes. This sample will reveal if there is lead in your home’s header pipe. The header pipe is underground, sometimes referred to as the pipe at “street level”. This pipe connects the home’s plumbing system to the municipal service line. Ensuring that the header pipe is not made from lead is the homeowner’s responsibility, as it is owned by the homeowner.

Step 5: Drop off your sample or mail it to the lab.

Step 6: Wait for your results. Most labs will send the results by mail, but some will email the results upon request. The results will either be given in parts per billion or milligrams per liter.

Pros: Peace of Mind

If you go this route, you’ll have the peace of mind of a full-lab report detailing exactly what is in your water. It won’t just tell you whether or not lead is present; It will tell you how much is present. This is important, because while the EPA requires all municipal drinking water to have lead levels of less than 15 parts per billion, there is no amount of lead that is entirely safe. Lead accumulates in the body, making even small amounts dangerous over time. You will also have the assurance of knowing that the results you received are accurate. The Department of Environmental Protection operates at a state level under the supervision of the EPA. If a lab is DEP-certified then you can trust that the testing procedures meet EPA standards.

Cons: Turnaround time, Inconvenience, and Cost.

Some of these labs have a quicker turnaround time than others. Some will have the results in a few days, but others could have you waiting weeks for answers. It really depends on the lab and the volume of business that they do.

Some labs have a mail-in option for samples, but many do not. Depending on what state you are in, you could find yourself having to go out of your way to drive to the lab in order to get the sterile sample container and then traveling back to the lab to drop the sample off. Lab fees vary. They range from $12-$80. So, depending on your state this could be one of the more expensive options.

—02

Buy an Instant Home Test Kit

You can buy an instant lead water test kit at Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, or many other home improvement retailers. Test kits can also be purchased from online retailers, such as Amazon or Ebay. There are many different at-home test kits to choose from. FirstAlert, H20 Okay, Abotex, and WaterSafe are just a few of the many brands available.

Step 1: Purchase a test kit at a local home improvement store, or order one from an online retailer.

Step 2: Collect a sample from your tap in the morning. Make sure to take a sample after the water has been stagnant in the pipes for at least six hours. Don’t run any faucets, showers, or flush the toilet before taking the sample. This is the sample that will show if there are any lead pipes inside of your home.

Collect a second sample after the water has been running for about two minutes, after the first sample has been collected. This sample that will show if your header pipe is constructed of lead.

Step 3: Place the lead test strip into the water. Many of these kits come with a variety of strips to test for different contaminants, so ensure that you are using the strip designated to test for lead.

Step 4: Following the instructions on the test kit, wait the recommended time frame, and then check the strip. Many kits have short time frames. FirstAlert will give the consumer results within just ten minutes.

Pros: Instant Results, Affordable, and Easy to Use.

With an at-home test kit, the consumer will have results in their hand in minutes.

At-home test kits are very affordable, ranging in price from $12-$25.

The kits are very easy to use, as it only requires taking a water sample and then placing the test strip into the water.

Cons: No Lab Report Showing Parts Per Billion

The test kits will only read positive or negative. Many are testing to EPA-standards, meaning that they are testing to 15 parts per billion. But this means that if the water contains less than 15 parts per billion, the test will read as “negative” for lead, when it may actually contain some lead.

—03

Have Your Water Tested by a Water Filtration Company

There are many water filtration companies that will test your home’s water for free. Kinetico, Ecowater, and RainSoft are just a couple of names in the industry.

Step 1: Contact a water-filtration company, for a free water quality test. You can search the internet for companies near you, or visit your local Lowes or Home Depot, and have them connect you with one of their service providers.

Step 2: Schedule a date for the test to take place. You can do this one of three ways. You can go through a retailer, call the water filtration supplier directly, or fill out a form on their company website.

 

If you decided to go through a retailer, such as Home Depot or Lowes, the most straightforward way to set an appointment is to go to the retailer’s website. Both of these big box stores have nearly identical formats. Go to either HomeDepot.com or Lowes.com. Go to “Home Services” or “Installation Services”. Choose “Water Softener Systems”. You will then be directed to instructions on how to schedule your free water test and home consultation.

Both retailers also have Home Services customer service lines that you can call to make an appointment.

Call Home Depot Installation Services at 1-877-417-8223.

Call Lowes Installation Services at 1-877-465-6937.

You could also choose to go directly through the distributor. Go to the Kinetico or Ecowater website, or search “water filtration companies” and enter your city or town.

Most of these company websites have a link that says “Schedule Your Free Water Test” or “Get Your Free Water Test”. You then just enter your information and wait for a representative to call you.

Step 3: Once you have your results, you can speak with a sales representative about the options for home water-filtration.

Pros: Solutions Readily Available and Free Water Quality Test

If there is a problem found with your water, you have the solution right in front of you. The same people that test the water can also sell you a water-filtration system, making it the only lead-testing option that comes with a built-in solution.

Additionally, the testing is free. If there is no problem with your water quality, and lead levels are under 15 parts per billion, then you haven’t wasted any money.

Cons: Sales Pitches

The reason these companies are agreeing to test your water for free is because they have a product to sell. After receiving a free water test, you are expected to listen to the solutions they have to offer.

—04

Have Your Water Tested by Your Local Water Supplier

Contact your water supplier and ask if they offer water testing. Some cities will come and test your home’s water for free.

Step 1: Find the contact information for your water supplier by visiting the website of your city government. Try looking under “Public Works” or “Water and Sewage”.

Step 2: Call or email your water supplier and tell them you are looking to have your tap water tested for lead.

Pros: Peace of Mind and Affordability

You can be assured that the test will be accurate if tested by the water supplier. Municipal water suppliers are held to EPA standards and water supplied must be less than 15 parts per billion.

If this is an option that your supplier provides, testing will often be free.

Cons: Time Consuming and Not Always an Option

Dealing with local government can be a time-consuming process. Websites can be difficult to navigate and it may be unclear who you should call for assistance. Waiting for responses via email may take quite a bit of time and even after putting in all of that effort, you may find this isn’t a service offered by your water supplier.

—05

Self-Diagnose Your Pipes

One way to start looking for answers is to check your pipes to see if they are made of lead. There are two types of pipes to check; the pipes inside the home and the header pipe. If the pipes are made of plastic or copper, you can tell by doing a visual inspection. But if the pipes are a black or gray color, then they could be either lead or galvanized steel.

Step 1: Start with the pipes in your home. Take a key or a coin and scratch the surface of the pipe. If a white line appears on the surface of the pipe, then it is lead. If there is no scratch, the pipe is made of galvanized steel.

Step 2: To check the header pipe, start by calling your water supplier. Go to your local government’s website and then to the page for their Water and Sewage department in order to find the proper contact information. The department should be able to find records for your home’s header pipe.

Pros: Free, Easy, and Results Are Immediate

If you’re worried about lead potentially affecting your family’s health, you may not want to wait to find a lab or a test kit. If you want results right away, this is the best option. A white scratch either will, or won’t, appear on the pipe, providing you with a clear and immediate answer.

This option is free and very easy to conduct. If you’re still unsure how to perform this option, there are several video tutorials available on Youtube.

Cons: Inconclusive

Testing with a coin or a key will give instant results, but that doesn’t test the quality of the water itself. It only ensures that the pipes inside of the home are not made from lead.

The header pipe underground can not be tested with the key test. To check the header pipe itself, you may need to call your water supplier.

This testing method will only ensure that your home’s pipes are or are not made of lead. Because of which, this method doesn’t rule out the possibility of lead entering the water before it enters your home’s plumbing system.

In summary, don’t panic just yet. You have many resources available to you and a number of different, and credible, ways you can test your home’s water quality. Once you have your results, there are a broad array of solutions available to you as well. Take charge of your family’s health and test your water today!

 

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9 Reasons Bottle Filling Stations Should Replace Every Drinking Fountain

9 Reasons Bottle Filling Stations Should Replace Every Drinking Fountain

 The newest endangered species in the U.S.? Drinking fountains.

Misperceptions about the quality of tap water compounded by a failure to replace older drinking fountains has led to a slow and quiet fading of what used to be an essential part of our public spaces. Years of neglect has created an unappealing and often ill-perceived image of public fountains.

Without blowing this out of proportion, the consequences are indeed dire. A lack of free, easily accessible water will inevitably cause people to turn to expensive bottled water or sugary beverages to quench their thirst. And the sad reality is that these options are not only inferior, they are a dangerous threat to the environment.

The solution?

Meet the Bottle Filling Station. It’s good looking and knows its way around a reusable water bottle; inherently environmentally-friendly, it’ll make drinking water cool again.

The full blown future of hydration has arrived. Here are 9 reasons to love it:

1. Quick and easy

Say goodbye to the days of the sideways bottle fill. That 45 degree tilt that left you with a half empty bottle is finally a thing of the past. Simply place your bottle down and let Elkay’s sensor-activated spout fill up your bottle, hands-free and 3x faster than a traditional fountain.

 

2. Extra clean

Hands; They’re America’s public enemy #1 in spreading germs. Contrary to popular belief, there is almost no risk of contracting a disease from most drinking fountains, as the spout is constantly being rinsed and therefore constantly being cleaned. However, on a traditional bubbler, parts touched by the hands are most likely to carry germs. The recessed spout coupled with the sensor-activated bottle fill solves this problem, keeping bacteria and virus risks out of the equation.

 

3. No more excuses to drink bottled water

Bottled water’s final resting place

Grandma always tells my brother to quit smoking and, in a couple of years, he’ll have enough money for a car. QUIT PAYING FOR BOTTLED WATER. Not only is it 2,000X more expensive than tap, three times the amount of water used to fill the bottle is needed to produce the plastic.

Also, if you think you’re doing the planet a favor by reusing disposable water bottles, you’re mistaken. Not only will the bottle eventually end up in the trash, in the meantime, you’re exposing your body to BPA, a harmful chemical that can cause conditions like breast cancer. By encouraging the use of reusable water bottles, the hydration station keeps your thirst quenched and rewards your behavior with a ticker showing the number of plastic bottles your community has saved from ending up in oceans or landfills. Tap: 1, Plastic: 0.

4. Trust in the fountain, Luke

Water is undoubtedly the best hydration option… so, how do we encourage people to drink more?  Centers for Disease Control researcher, Stephen Onufrak, has found that the less young people trust water fountains, the more sugary beverages they drink. Exacerbating the problem, people are misinformed about tap water even though, in reality, it is much more strictly regulated than bottled water. Another little known fact is that bottled water does come with an expiration date. Over time, the materials used to make the plastic bottles, “begin leaching into the liquid, which affects its taste and could create a serious health hazard.” So, while bottled water may seem harmless from the outside, its standards of quality and manufacturing process are not as pure as you’d think. Bottle filling stations on the other hand inspire trust in both quality and safety that, in turn, encourage more hydration.

5. More hydration = less obesity

Studies have found sugary beverages to be highly linked with obesity and diabetes, especially in children and young adults. Hydration, however, is positively correlated with everything from flushing out toxins and increasing muscle efficiency to having more beautiful skin. Unfortunately, people are still drinking sugary beverages. Behavior change isn’t easy, especially for the young people most at risk; quality drinking fountains give society the tools it needs to stay healthy.

 

6. High quality h2o

Worried about tap water quality? You probably shouldn’t be if you live in the U.S., but the water filter option will provide you with added assurance. The standard Elkay filter screens for aesthetic chlorine, taste, odor, particulate class I and lead. It even has a sensor showing when the 3,000 gallon capacity filter needs to be replaced. This is water quality at its finest, folks.

 

7. Clean water should be a right

Considering 1 in 38 children in the U.S. is predicted to have lead poisoning, the issue of water equity, especially during childhood when the consequences of exposure can be far more devastating, has never been more pressing. Additionally, because lead poisoning, “disproportionately affects children in low-income families living in older housing,” it only adds to a growing list of socioeconomic disparities. By installing water bottle filling stations in public areas and schools, children have greater access to healthy water.

8. The water cooler effect

The office or gym watering hole provides a quick break and hydration boost.

Looking to boost productivity in your office? Researchers at MIT showed that hanging around the office water hole has been proven to do just that, in addition to increasing worker satisfaction. Whether it be the kitchen sink or a modern bottle filling station, human beings are social animals and water cooler chitchat is a proven producer of social cohesion.

 

 

9. The future of hydration

Functional improvement in a drinking fountain design has finally arrived. With filtered water, a green design and an inherent compatibility with reusable bottles matched only by the water dispenser on your fridge, the bottle filling station will change the way we hydrate. Built for all types of organizations, price points, and floor plans, water bottle filling stations are much more adaptable compared to traditional water fountains. Elkay isn’t stopping here though; with its “Enhanced” bottle filling stations, the company is taking hydration to the next level.

What are the water fountains like in your school or community? Share below!

 

List of Grants for Water Bottle Filling Stations

List of Grants for Water Bottle Filling Stations

18

DECEMBER, 2016

As an extremely effective solution for clean, sustainable water, it’s no wonder why bottle filling stations are becoming so popular.  

There’s just one problem; they aren’t cheap.  

As a full-service resource for bottle filling stations, we believe everyone should have an opportunity to join this movement.

For that reason, we’ve put together a list of grants for water bottle filling stations that can supplement or, in some cases, completely cover the costs.  

Locating funds is one thing and accessing them is another. Read our “Ultimate Guide: Fundraising for Bottle Filling Stations” and contact one of our advisors for free support during the process.  

Below is our working list of water bottle filling stations grants.

 

United States

EPA Cleaner Water and Air for America’s Schoolchildren Fund

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Peace, Love & Planet

Farmers Insurance Thank America’s Teachers Grants

Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Recyclebank Green Schools

Appalachian Regional Commision (Appalachian states – see list of communities)

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education

EPA Cleaner Water and Air for America’s Schoolchildren Fund

 

Arkansas:

Innovative Solutions for Educational Partnerships

Healthy Active Arkansas – Rethink your Drink Grant

 

Arizona:

AZ Foundation

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

 

California

City of Palo Alto

Healthy Shasta County

San Francisco Public Utilities Grant

UC Berkeley: The Green Initiative Fund Grant

Water to Go Station Grant

BeWaterWise.com

West Basin Water Bottle Filling Station Grant

California EPA Water Grant   

Drinking Water for Schools Grant program

Oakland County Water Bottle Filling Station Program

 

Colorado

Water Bottle Filling Station Grants

Live Well Colorado  

Colorado Health Foundation Funding Opportunities

 

Connecticut

The Watershed Fund

 

Delaware

Delaware PTA grants

 

Hawaii

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Grant

 

Illinois

Illinois American Water Grant

Lake Forest High School Foundation

 

Idaho

State of Idaho Green Project Reserve

 

Indiana

Indiana American Water Grant

Carmel Green Teen Grant

Greening Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Grant

 

Iowa

Earth Day eCycle Grant

Des Moines Water Works Grant

Iowa American Water Grant

Delta Dental of Iowa

 

Kansas

Pathways to a healthy Kansas

 

Kentucky

Kentucky American Water Grant

 

Maine

Portland Water District Water Bottle Filling Station Grant

 

Maryland

BGE Green Grants Program

 

Michigan

Bosch Community Fund Grants

Western Michigan University Sustainability Grant

Delta Dental Water Bottle Filling Station Grant

 

Minnesota

Healthy Together Grant

Hennepin County Green Partners Environmental Education Program Grant

Institute of Environment Grant, University of Minnesota

Minnesota Dept of Health Drinking Water Poster Contest

 

Missouri

Missouri Foundation for Health Grant

 

Nebraska

Human Services Federation

 

Nevada

Community Foundation of Western Nevada

Green Grants (for students)

 

New Hampshire

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

 

New Jersey

New Jersey American Water Grant

New Jersey Education Association Grant

STAR Grant Program

Sustainable Jersey Grant programs

 

New York

New York American Water Grant

Briarcliff Manor Education Foundation Grant

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

 

North Carolina

Watauga Education Foundation Grant

Kids Run the Nation Grant Fund

Delta Dental of North Carolina

 

North Dakota

North Dakota Community Foundation

 

Oklahoma

TSET Healthy Schools Incentive Grants

 

Oregon

Clackamas County Grant

Oregon Department of Education

Oregon DEQ Drinking Water Protection Program

 

Pennsylvania

GRINCH Grant

Pennsylvania American Water Grant

Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Foundation Grant

Pennsylvania DEP Foundation Grants  

 

Rhode Island

Green Love Foundation

 

South Carolina

MUSC Boeing Center for Children’s Wellness Grant

 

South Dakota

Dakota Hospital Foundation

 

Tennessee

Tennessee American Water Grant

Healthier Tennessee

 

Utah

Blue Goes Green Grants, Utah State University

 

Vermont

School Zero Waste Grants

Washington Electric Cooperative Community Fund

Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

Chittenden Solid Waste District Project Grants

 

Virginia

Virginia American Water Grant

Virginia Beach Education Foundation Grant

William & Mary Green Fee Grants

Green Ideas Challenge Grants

Community Foundation of Henderson County Grant

The Community Foundation Grants

Highmark Foundation Grants  

 

Washington

Healthiest Next Generation Initiative Grant

Western Washington University Sustainable Action Fund

Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction School Facilities Grants  

 

West Virginia

West Virginia American Water Grant

 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Watertown Health Foundation

 

Canada

Green Apple Grant

Toronto District School Board Grant

 

Can’t find a grant in your state? Contact one of our advisors for support.

Connect with our Advisors

Learn more

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