The Whitman High School Education Foundation is funding the installation of six water bottle filling stations this week.
The water bottle stations, called retrofit kits, will transform regular water fountains in an attempt to provide students with an easy way to refill their water bottles, as well as using the traditional fountain.
The Foundation is a non-profit independent organization that raises money to support beneficial projects for the Whitman community, according to its website.
The Foundation’s decision to buy the retrofit kits answered a call from students.
“We last year reached out to the SGA to get their input for ideas for things they thought as improvement opportunities that the Foundation should consider,” Foundation President Ellen Singer said. “One of the ideas was the water bottle filling stations.”
The Foundation purchased the five kits for $400 each, totaling $2,000. The Foundation bought the kits through the county, which provides a channel easier and more affordable purchase, Singer said. MCPS will also install the kits, which may improve student health.
“The reason we considered them is because hydration is important for students’ health,” she said. “It’s also more sanitary than a regular water fountain because you’re not putting your mouth on the fountain.”
To some students’ disappointment, the water from the stations will not be additionally filtered. However, students are generally excited for the installation, and often named the added convenience of not having to jam a water bottle under the traditional fountain’s arc.
“It’s harder to fill a water bottle when it’s sideways,” junior Elizabeth Holden said. “If we can just stick it under the [refilling kit] it’ll be easier.”
Another benefit is the saved plastic from encouraging reusable water bottle use, freshman Yasmeen Gauri said.
The number of plastic water bottles actually saved will be measured and displayed on the device, Singer said.
Overall, the stations intend to provide students with a little added convenience in their day.
“It seems like a very obvious thing that we can do that would help improve quality of life at Whitman all around,” Singer said.
