Quinnipiac University Follows Student Initiative

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College is a place to learn, a place to receive an education both inside and outside the classroom. With newfound personal awareness and an encouraging culture, campuses provide the ideal environment for students to evaluate common perceptions, pursue their passion and support cause-related movements. College students are notorious for starting and leading new political, educational, environmental and/or personal trends; Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, is no exception.

Objective

Quinnipiac staff noticed that there were a growing number of students in their community walking around campus with reusable water bottles. They immediately recognized that students were adopting the growing trend to reduce bottled water waste and increase their usage of reusable water bottles. In turn, the university decided to help support their campus population’s growing sustainability efforts by providing a sustainable hydration option.

Solution

Keith Woodward, associate vice president of Facilities Operations, started researching hydration options. After seeing a video online, Mr. Woodward found his solution — the Brita® Hydration Station®. His viewing of the product video quickly triggered ideas on how multiple units could service his campus. “I came across the Brita Hydration Station as a better way to refill bottles than traditional water fountains. It was clean, easier to use and helps reduce the use of plastics on campuses,” states Woodward. The evolutionary Brita Hydration Station is a touchfree, sensor-operated, water dispenser offering healthier*, great-tasting water.

Results

“The students and staff love them,” says Woodward. “I can’t put in enough to satisfy our community!”

Initially, Quinnipiac started promoting the new units through their online website and their sustainability team, but Woodward claims that they don’t need much promotion. Word quickly spread about the installations throughout the community and now students just know where they are. “They are great!” says Woodward.

Brita Hydration Stations offer users the benefits of great tasting, Brita filtered water at a variety of away-from-home locations without the waste and cost of bottled water.

The multiple product options transform regular tap water into healthier* drinking water using a certified advanced filtration system. Brita Hydration Stations are certified according to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 & 53 for the reduction of chlorine (taste and odor), lead, and 99.99 percent of cysts.

* Certified to reduce lead and cysts. Substances reduced may not be in all users’ water.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

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