Add as a preferred source on Google

Schools Give Water Fountains the Touchless Treatment

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 02/23/21

Alongside investments in personal protective equipment, sanitation stations and distancing shields, some schools are earmarking a portion of their federal CARES Act funding to replace their water fountains with touchless versions that don't need continual cleaning.

According to FloWater, one company that makes refill stations, business is gushing. In the past year, CARES Act funds have been used to install "hundreds" of “touchless” refill stations. Just a few of the installation sites include California's Colton Joint Unified School District, the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado, the Minersville Area School District in Pennsylvania and the Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology in North Carolina.

Touchless variations of traditional water fountains may use foot pedals or sensors for operation. All require students to use their own containers.

Touchless water fountain
A touchless refill station replaces the standard school water fountain.
Source: FloWater

The company stated that more than 750 of its refill stations have been installed in schools, including 400 with the touchless technology. The refill stations are free-standing and connect to any potable water line within 100 feet. According to the company, most facilities can replace old fountains in the same location without having to obtain building permits or do additional construction.

"This is a 'win' on so many levels for our school community," noted Frank Miranda, superintendent at Colton, in a press release. "We have provided clean drinking water, met the pandemic-driven safety challenge for a safe reopening and provided easy access to the healthiest drink possible."

"Before COVID, we were seeing a high demand as schools looked to eliminate plastic waste and contaminants, like lead, from their drinking water," added FloWater CEO Rich Razgaitis in a press release. "Now, with our fully touchless drinking water solution, we are able to meet the national challenge to replace outdated water fountains."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

Digital Edition