Encouraging Student Water Consumption: A School Environmental Change Project

Upstream Public Health implemented a multi-school multi-component demonstration project to increase student consumption of tap water as an element of obesity prevention and as a foundation for future efforts in other school districts. The project intervention included four components: 1) school wellness policy changes, 2) access changes with filtered and chilled water stations and water bottles, 3) a water slogan-design contest to promote drinking water, and 4) nutrition education specific to sugar sweetened beverages. Upstream Public Health, a health policy advocacy non-profit, worked with school district administrators and staff at one Oregon school district to develop the project, implement the project elements, and evaluate the projects' success. We used student surveys and water monitors to evaluate water consumption changes. Preliminary results indicate installing water stations in conjunction with water bottles increases student water consumption with mixed effects on student sugary beverage consumption. The project successfully supported district-wide wellness policy efforts centered on nutrition. We conclude that multi-component interventions including school infrastructure changes are a promising method for reducing student consumption of sugary beverages. Participants attending the workshop will be able to 1) identify intervention elements and related student beverage consumption changes, 2) discuss the challenges and benefits of making school environment changes to address child obesity, and 3) discuss lessons learned regarding school infrastructure changes.