Rowland Heights, CA (January 9, 2023) – It was out with old and in with the new at Yorbita Elementary School in La Puente and Telesis Academy of Science and Math in West Covina, where Rowland Water District (RWD) replaced drinking fountains with water bottle filling stations over winter break.
The upgrade is part of the District’s “What’s in Your Bottle?” initiative, which promotes the value of tap water. Students and staff will be provided with reusable bottles to fill with cool, clean water so they can enjoy the full benefits of their refilling station.
Each filling station has a ticker that displays how many plastic bottles are expected to be saved by using a reusable water bottle. By choosing a reusable water bottle, individuals could save an average of 156 plastic bottles per year, according to Beyond Plastics, a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont.
“Our filling station program helps students reduce their dependence on plastic bottles, eliminating waste and cultivating an appreciation for the convenience and great taste of tap water,” RWD General Manager Tom Coleman said.
“What’s in Your Bottle?” started in January 2020 at two schools. There’s no cost to the schools since the District covers the equipment and installation costs. Two new school sites are selected for the fill stations each year and this program is expected to have converted all schools within the RUSD and RWD service area by the end of the 23-24 school year.
The program complements the “What’s Your Water Footprint?” campaign, which provides home conservation resources online at yourwaterfootprint.org.
For more information about the “What’s in Your Bottle?” program, visit www.rwd.org.