Increasing Access to Drinking Water in School

1. Increasing Access to Drinking Water in School

2. Why is drinking water important? • Helps to reduce intake of excess added sugars and calories • Helps prevent cavities by providing fluoride and reducing acid in the mouth • Prevents dehydration • May improve cognitive function in children and adolescents

3. Promote Water Consumption One way to encourage children and adults to drink enough water is to make safe drinking water widely available in a variety of settings, including schools.

4. What is required of schools?

5. Drinking Water Requirements • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to make plain (i.e., no flavoring, additives, or carbonation) drinking water available to students at no cost during the meal periods at the locations where meals are served. • School Breakfast • School Lunch • Afterschool Snack Program

6. Actions for Schools to Increase Water Access and Consumption • Offer water filling stations or water jets • Provide cups at water filling stations and/or allow students to bring and use reusable water bottles • Establish cleaning standards for all water access points • Offer water pitchers and cups on lunch tables • Place signage near and at water fountains and dispensers • Ensure the school is in compliance with plumbing codes regarding minimum number of drinking fountains/number of students

7. Actions for Schools to Increase Water Access and Consumption (cont.) • Provide free drinking water (with attractive presentation) at meetings and conferences. • Promote the environmental and cost benefits of drinking tap water over bottled beverages in the classroom and to parents • Promote the safety of tap water • When available for sale, offer water at a reduced price compared to other beverages

8. How does water access fit with the local school wellness policy?

9. Wellness Policy and Water Access Work Together • Increase access to healthy foods and beverages • Promote access to free water • Reduce access to sugar sweetened beverages • Create supportive nutrition environments in schools • Promote and implement nutrition standards where foods and beverages are available

10. What are some next steps to increase access to water?

11. Next Steps • Complete the needs assessment and planning tools in the CDC Increasing Access To Drinking Water in Schools toolkit to determine additional action steps • Include a student survey and consider the following themes in your assessment: • Is the tap water clean and safe? • Is the tap water perceived as clean and safe? • Where are drinking fountains/water sources located? • How much does the water cost, or is it free? • If bottled, what is the impact on the environment? • In schools: what is the source of the water, and is it appealing in taste, smell, and color? • Are there areas in the school building that could use a water source?

12. Next Steps • Identify partners and stakeholders • Consider partners that have an interest in nutrition, physical activity, oral health, or child health and wellness. • Facilitate discussions with stakeholders.

13. Thank You! Angela Mitchell, RN, BAEducation ConsultantBureau of Nutrition & Health ServicesIowa Department of Educationangela.mitchell@iowa.gov This resource was made possible by a 1305 CDC Grant sponsored by the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Education.

14. Acknowledgements This presentation was adapted from a full presentation developed by Joan Atkinson from the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) for CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO).