Encouraging Consumption of Water in School: Access, Challenges, and Strategies

The drinking fountains of our childhood are everything except a reminder of the past: at numerous schools today, sugary refreshments are far less accessible than safe, free drinking water. Lack of water utilization can affect children's overall well-being and learning capacity. Dehydrated youngsters experience decreased cognitive performance, particularly in areas such as memory and focus.

Making the situation worse, rather than drinking water, kids tend to drink refreshments that can contribute to excess weight gain and tooth decay, such as soft drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened teas. About 33% of youngsters and teenagers in the United States are overweight or obese, and studies have connected rising obesity rates to the consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks.

Since kids spend most of their day at school, school strategies and projects can significantly impact whether they are empowered or disheartened to adopt healthy water consumption. With the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the government law now requires schools to participate in federal meal programs. For example, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides fresh drinking water at no cost to students during mealtimes in school food service areas. States can establish more extensive prerequisites, as Massachusetts has done, expecting schools to provide free drinking water throughout the day.

Benefits of Water Provision

Providing and supplying water:

• makes an ample source of a minimal amount of refreshment for the day;
• supports great health and prosperity among students, staff, and different grown-ups;
• lessens tiredness, irritation, and diversion from thirst;
• can positively affect students' fixation for the day;
• exhibits to guardians and to the neighborhood group that the school esteems students' health and growth;
• Brings attention to the importance of adequate liquid intake and a balanced diet as part of a healthy, dynamic lifestyle.

Challenges

Schools face various obstacles to promptly providing free drinking water, including deteriorating school infrastructure, concerns about water quality, and the pervasiveness of sugar-sweetened refreshments.

A larger part of U.S. schools were constructed before 1969, and numerous need critical infrastructure repairs for old pipes or installations. Students tend to maintain a strategic distance from drinking fountains that are broken or filthy or deliver water that tastes awful. Few might be situated in poorly designed areas where water fountains are usable. Staff, guardians, and students express both established and unwarranted concerns about the security and quality of tap water.

Most schools get their tap water from public water systems. Considering that federal law allows states and localities to establish water testing and remediation programs, a recent review found that some U.S. schools require examinations for lead in their drinking water. The absence of practices and policies for testing, reporting results, and making a remedial move adds to fears about tap water security.

Bottled water has become increasingly popular in schools as an alternative to tap water. However, it isn't more secure, and it can be expensive for students. In addition, it is environmentally inefficient.

In the meantime, students are consuming an ever-increasing number of calories from sugary beverages, which are generally accessible at or near schools. State nutrition rules, school boards, arrangements, and planned industry activities have decreased the accessibility of sugary beverages in schools. Yet, a national investigation found that half of grade school students could purchase undesirable drinks (including soft drinks, sports beverages, and high-fat milk) in school vending machines, student stores, lines, and a la carte cafeterias.

Supplanting sugary beverages with artificially sweetened ones, such as diet soda, may reduce the number of calories consumed. However, these beverages expel water and other, more nutritious refreshments. Moreover, because numerous schools depend on vending machine deals to fund store-to-school activities, they may fear losing income by eliminating soda and other beverages from the machines.

Likewise, schools that depend on bottled water sales for benefits may hesitate to offer free drinking water. School approaches can be critical in making drinking water more accessible, yet only a few schools have such policies set up.

Most have focused on reducing the accessibility and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Although this is imperative, these policies don't need to improve drinking water accessibility. A few schools have policies that discourage the use of water.

For instance, some schools prohibit students from using reusable water bottles because they worry that students will consume alcoholic beverages. In contrast, others restrict water use in classrooms due to concerns about water spills and the need for restroom breaks.

Six Strategies

What to Say

The initial step in developing an advancement strategy is determining what water data to share. That is, what should site consumers find out about water? What messages may spur them to drink water rather than sugary refreshments? Cases of messages are recorded below:

Water is good for health

• Water has zero calories and no sugar
• Drinking more water and fewer sugary beverages can help avoid weight gain
• Drinking water rather than sugary beverages can help avoid dental cavities

Water can enhance one's capacity to learn and think

• Drinking water hydrates individuals so they can function at their best
• Drinking water may improve cognitive function

Water is low-cost

• Faucet water costs under 1 cent per gallon, making it substantially less costly than bottled beverages.
• Drinking faucet water rather than bottled water daily can save $350 a year.

Water is safe

• Faucet water is tested for contaminants more regularly than bottled water and is generally safe to drink in many places in the U.S. Water is a tasty and refreshing beverage.
• Especially when chilled, water is delectable and refreshing.
• Infusing water with natural products like fruits, vegetables, or herbs is a simple method to make water appealing without added sugar.

Drinking faucet water rather than packaged refreshments is better for the environment.

• Drinking faucet water saves water and energy because no plastic containers or packaging are needed.
• Drinking tap water lessens the number of plastic bottles that end up in landfills.

Water is easy to find

• Tap water is accessible in any place, including schools, parks, community centers, restaurants, and homes

Schools can find a way to urge students to drink water throughout the school day:

1. Improve water quality.

Schools can test their drinking water and address any issues to make free drinking water safer and more appealing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created school guidance for data on testing programs. It is known as the 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools.

Schools can implement cleanliness guidelines for water fountains and repair deteriorating infrastructure by collaborating with local and state governments or securing federal funding to cover the costs of repairs. For instance, the Los Angeles Unified School District utilized assets from a city bond reserved for school improvements to repair plumbing in its schools. Performing general testing and maintenance, and opening the data can help lessen students' and staff's concerns.

2. Reduce consumption of sugary beverages.

Schools can promote healthier refreshments, including water, by restricting access to soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks. They can boycott the deal and publicize sugar-sweetened drinks, opting instead to fundraise in ways that don't promote unwanted products.

Likewise, schools may increase income by expanding their investment in the government meals program. They can advance students' well-being and district funds by embracing distribution arrangements with clear contract terms that help youngsters' health.

3. Push for school policies.

While government and state policies that regulate nutrition standards in schools can improve drinking water accessibility, school boards can also implement local initiatives. At the very least, schools can reinforce their arrangements by including language that ensures that free and safe drinking water is generally accessible in different areas on school grounds.

School policies that support student water use throughout the school day may include offering drinking water at the lunch counter and enabling students to acquire water in the classroom's clear, topped containers. National, state, and local governments provide funding and different incentives to help schools in these endeavors.

4. Invest in a water dispenser.

Schools can expand access to free drinking water by installing a water dispenser (e.g., a water container or cooler) in the cafeteria. They can also introduce a filtration gadget to provide a lasting source of perfect and engaging drinking water. However, schools may require funds for the establishment, maintenance, work (to fill and purify dispensers), and purchasing cups or containers to buy a filter.

The USDA does not consider consumable water a component of the NSLP reimbursable meal, and no other financing is available. Notwithstanding, essential and inexpensive costs related to providing drinking water, such as pitchers and paper cups, are reasonable costs that food services can charge to their not-for-profit food services account (which holds income from offering meals; the assets can be utilized to work and enhance school food benefits).

Refer to the USDA update "Water Availability During National School Lunch Program Meal Services" for additional information on the USDA's definition of a reasonable cost. Guardians and other interested individuals can collaborate with school boards and local governments to raise awareness of the issue and secure funding for its resolution. Schools can also cooperate with industry to cover costs.

For instance, New York City public schools obtained financial help from the city's Department of Education and Health (with government subsidy) to install water fountains in their cafeterias, similar to the commercial water and ice containers used in restaurants.

5. Conduct a water-drinking contest.

Having a goal and friendly competition is inspiring, leading to positive results. To encourage drinking water at school every day, hold a classroom contest where everyone should work together. While the contest rules, in all probability, should rely on trust, it urges everybody to be seen continually drinking water. Setting a group goal with a prize at the end offers uplifting feedback for anyone who needs a reminder from time to time.

6. Host a health week.

Promote the benefits of drinking water through a dedicated health week, where students can learn best practices for diet and exercise to support their physical and mental well-being. While students may have a general idea of why water is beneficial for them, they may not understand the potential side effects of not drinking enough.

Dehydration can lead to issues such as headaches, fatigue, and muscle cramps. It can restrict active students and impact their performance in school and sports. Students must remain hydrated to maintain optimal mental and physical performance.

For younger children, it's great to assist them with learning the basics, and for older ones who might have learned it previously, progressing in schooling won't ever hurt. Educating and reminding students to remain hydrated can help them perform better in specific exercises, such as taking an examination, participating in sports, and staying on track in class.

Forming healthy habits requires consistency and monitored progress until they become solidified in the brain. Integrating fun into any occasion can get individuals to discuss and drink more water.

Promoting Water in School

Water awareness and consumption can be brought up in school by:

At school:

• Asking the school committee to talk about thoughts for advancement.
• Establishing campaigns and generating posters, such as composing the best publication or poster, would be an excellent method to bring to light the significance of water in schools.
• Having water-only days to delve into the issues;
• Organizing a supported swim for a water charity to accentuate the issues.
• Introducing the school in a regional competition. Like Northern Ireland, Water runs a yearly competition called 'Water for Health.'
• Advancing the accessibility of free water inside school canteens.
• Writing an official statement to produce enthusiasm for the local (and national) press;
• Advancing water drinking on the school website. A pop-up message on each page of the site will highlight the message until the great practice is established.
• Guaranteeing that all pamphlets and reports created in the school promote the message that drinking water is beneficial for you.
• Educating guardians frequently about water provision at school;
• Utilizing grown-ups as good positive examples;
• Holding a healthy day or week to promote water and a healthier way of eating.
• Beginning an educational program to study student and staff consumption before and after water promotion;
• Inspiring students to make a presentation on the significance of water at congregations or in class.
• Organizing visits from speakers, for instance, a local health expert or sports enthusiast.
• Incorporation of the entire school nutrition policy and joining the Healthy Schools exercise.

At home:

• Ensure kids eat fresh fruits and vegetables regularly. Their high water content helps meet their daily water needs.
• Please discuss with your child the connection between water intake and further development, and how choosing water over soda or fruit juices can help them feel more energized, alert, and ready to play and explore.
• Model the behavior you need to see from your children. Assuming you begin drinking more water and choose water over other less nutritious choices, they will, as well.
• Get creative and decorate your water bottle with stickers, markers, and other materials to make drinking water more enjoyable.
• Team up with your child to replace one sugar-sweetened drink per day with water, which can also help reduce your weekly grocery bill.

Conclusion

Motivating kids to drink more water promotes their overall health and willingness to learn, and it can be crucial in the fight against childhood obesity. When they drink more water, youngsters consume fewer calories from sugar-sweetened beverages, remain hydrated, and improve their vitality and focus. 

Essentially, reassuring kids to drink more water isn't sufficient if it is safe, and free water isn't promptly accessible. Schools, students, guardians, local governments, and private industries can cooperate in implementing approaches and practices that help provide access to free, delicious water.