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Providing Students with Adequate School Drinking Water Access in an Era of Aging Infrastructure: A Mixed Methods Investigation

Author

Listed:
  • Erica L. Kenney

    (Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • James G. Daly

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Rebekka M. Lee

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Rebecca S. Mozaffarian

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Katherine Walsh

    (Department of Facilities Management, Boston Public Schools, 1216 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125, USA)

  • Jill Carter

    (Office of Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Instruction & Policy, Boston Public Schools, 2300 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, USA)

  • Steven L. Gortmaker

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

Abstract

Ensuring students’ access to safe drinking water at school is essential. However, many schools struggle with aging infrastructure and subsequent water safety problems and have turned to bottled water delivery systems. Little is known about whether such systems are feasible and effective in providing adequate student water access. This study was a mixed-methods investigation among six schools in an urban district in the U.S. with two types of water delivery systems: (1) tap water infrastructure, with updated water fountains and bottle fillers, and (2) bottled water coolers. We measured students’ water consumption and collected qualitative data from students and teachers about their perceptions of school drinking water. Student water consumption was low—between 2.0 (SD: 1.4) ounces per student and 2.4 (SD: 1.1) ounces per student during lunch. Students and teachers reported substantial operational hurdles for relying on bottled water as a school’s primary source of drinking water, including difficulties in stocking, cleaning, and maintaining the units. While students and teachers perceived newer bottle filler units positively, they also reported a distrust of tap water. Bottled water delivery systems may not be effective long-term solutions for providing adequate school drinking water access and robust efforts are needed to restore trust in tap water.

Suggested Citation

  • Erica L. Kenney & James G. Daly & Rebekka M. Lee & Rebecca S. Mozaffarian & Katherine Walsh & Jill Carter & Steven L. Gortmaker, 2019. "Providing Students with Adequate School Drinking Water Access in an Era of Aging Infrastructure: A Mixed Methods Investigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2019:i:1:p:62-:d:300070
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elbel, B. & Mijanovich, T. & Abrams, C. & Cantor, J. & Dunn, L. & Nonas, C. & Cappola, K. & Onufrak, S. & Park, S., 2015. "A water availability intervention in New York City public schools: Influence on youths' water and milk behaviors," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(2), pages 365-372.
    2. Kenney, E.L. & Long, M.W. & Cradock, A.L. & Gortmaker, S.L., 2015. "Prevalence of inadequate hydration among US children and disparities by gender and race/ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2012," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(8), pages 113-118.
    3. Zhihua Hu & Lois Wright Morton & Robert L. Mahler, 2011. "Bottled Water: United States Consumers and Their Perceptions of Water Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-14, February.
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