The need to enhance kids' access to water in and out of school

By Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, Director, Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio.

Did you know that 1 in 4 kids drink no water in a day?

Latino kids drink less water than their white peers. They also are more likely to perceive tap water as unsafe, and drink more sugary drinks, our research shows. This can contribute to unhealthy weight and make kids dehydrated, which can cause mild cognitive impairment. As National Nutrition Month draws to a close, it’s important to consider the pieces of nutrition that are often left out of the conversation. Water is a crucial part of proper nutrition, as the body needs and use water to properly function and deliver nutrients across the body.

Water Bottle Fountains in schools are an emerging answer to this issue.

A Water Bottle Fountain is a filtered water fountain for filling and refilling water bottles. These fountains—compared with classic fountains—ensure access to safe, clean, free drinking water throughout the day and after school for students and also faculty and staff.

Use our Salud America! Water Bottle Fountain Action Pack to build a case to add one at your school!

There are many reasons why you should make this healthy change.

A water Bottle Fountain can:

• Save money. No need for parents to constantly pay for bottled water.
• Save waste. No more chunking empty plastic bottles or cups into the trash.
• Promote clean water. Many types of Water Bottle Fountains offer filtered water.
• Reduce sugary drink consumption. Students drink fewer sugary drinks when water is an option. This is important because, even as U.S. children’s sugary drink consumption has declined over the past 15 years, rates remain higher than federal dietary guidelines and among Latinos and other minorities, according to a recent report.
• Promote proper nutrition. Water is essential for all body functions. It transports nutrients and oxygen to all cells and carries waste products away, as well as helps maintain blood volume, according to eatright.org. The amount of nutritious water a child needs varies. Eatright.org recommends 5 cups a day of water for boys and girls ages 4-8, 7 cups for girls ages 9-13, 8 cups for boys ages 9-13, 8 cups for girls ages 14-18, and 11 cups for boys ages 14-18.
• Promote a healthy weight. For example, when New York elementary and middle schools replaced vending machines with water jets (similar to Water Bottle Fountains), students’ overweight rates decreased 0.9 percent among boys and 0.6% among girls.
• Prevent the spread of germs. Filling and refillable a water bottle is logically less risky than putting your mouth around a classic spout where many mouths have been.

Our free Salud America! Action Pack can help parents, teachers, afterschool program leaders, and other school officials drive support to add a Water Bottle Fountain at your school.

The Action Pack includes template emails to start the conversation, a letter webpage to demonstrate local support, and sharable materials to spread the word. Action Pack users also get access to a coach for customized help along the way.

Request a free Water Bottle Fountain Action Pack today!