VENDING & WATER COOLERS
HYDRATION IN EDUCATION David Smithson, CEO of Eau de Vie, providers of water filtration systems
discusses the importance of keeping children and young people healthy and hydrated throughout the school day.
Research shows that 40% of British children aged 11-18 are not drinking the FSA’s recommended 1.2 litres of water per day and as they spend at least half their waking hours at school or college, studies on student hydration highlight an important message for schools and therefore Education Facility Managers - the need for easy access to water across campuses. Although most schools make drinking water available, many still aren’t using the current water systems in place adequately - for reasons such as taste and appliance appearance.
Whilst we can all agree that hydration is important for everyone, it is especially vital for those at school and college. Children have a higher proportion of body water than adults and can become dehydrated more quickly, having a severe effect on both health and learning ability. For this reason, Education Facility Managers need to be looking to alternative drinking water equipment, which encourage water consumption and also adhere to sustainability targets, rather than choosing unsustainable water bottles or purchasing outdated machines, which may only deter people from drinking.
With a growing awareness and increased importance placed on sustainability, purchasing bottled water is no longer a viable solution. Being environmentally-friendly has become a part of today’s society and it doesn’t look like this trend will
24 | TOMORROW’S FM
weaken any time soon. As it takes seven litres of water and 162g of oil to produce a one litre bottle of water, and it also releases 120g of CO2
in
the process, this water source is less likely to be considered a solution– particularly in schools that have sustainability targets to follow.
“IT TAKES SEVEN LITRES OF WATER AND 162g
OF OIL TO PRODUCE A ONE LITRE BOTTLE.”
Therefore, installing sustainable water units is highly recommended and marks a significant shift in approach when it comes to hydration. Children do not necessarily see drinking fluid as a priority, more of a bore and an inconvenience. Newer, modern water machines, such as filtration systems, will be far more appealing to school children than traditional water fountains. Instant, aesthetically appealing, contemporary and easy-to-use water sources such as these, will influence pupils to reach for the water, rather than vending machines, which are full of sugary, unsustainable drinks, or even going thirsty.
And even when it comes to all- important costs, filtration systems still come out on top – a huge win for schools, when it comes to tight budgets. Both the financial and environmental impacts of bottled
water are vast when you consider the price that importing, chilling, distributing and disposing of plastic bottles amounts to. Storing bottled water also takes up vital space that could be utilised much more wisely. Plus, when you consider that it costs schools an average of 55p to buy a litre of bottled water and compare that to the 5p that it costs to produce a litre of filtered water, you don’t need to be a maths teacher to see how the two water solutions stack up against one another financially!
As filling up water bottles from water fountains is often near impossible and causes an expanding puddle on the floor, leading to potential safety issues, systems like the Eau de Vie Water Café, which uses an automated system and provides unlimited filtered, chilled still or sparkling water, are far easier when it comes to filling up and drinking water on-the- go, without making a mess!
The Eau de Vie Water Café, a standalone water dispenser, producing first class, chilled, filtered still and sparking water allows pupils to bring a variety of water containers with them to school and use special top-up cards to refill their water bottles. This also offers the potential for schools to make a small profit and further encourage their pupils to stay hydrated. The water café’s onscreen display could also be used to delivery key messages to users when refilling their bottles.
www.eaudevie.com
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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