County floats hydration station ordinance

Santa Clara County staff and supervisors are studying a proposal to require all new commercial buildings to install water bottle filling stations, also known as “hydration stations” and “drink tap” stations.
Proposed is an ordinance that would require the water stations—which differ from standard water fountains by pouring water downward to make it easier to refill an entire bottle—to be installed at a rate of one per floor in new commercial facilities in the unincorporated county. The idea is currently making its way through the supervisors’ committees.
Board of Supervisors President Mike Wasserman, who represents District 1 which includes South County, said he expects the requirement will be adopted for all county-owned facilities, but it remains a subject of ongoing discussion if the hydration stations will be required at new private commercial developments.
“The whole thing is to encourage people to go in with their water bottles and fill them up easily and quickly, so people make the healthy choice for water instead of (sodas) or things with more sugar,” Wasserman said. “Frankly, I think it will be a great thing. It’s promoting healthier lifestyles.”
An increased presence of hydration stations accomplishes multiple goals, according to a county staff report presented to the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation committee. The water spigots would encourage residents and employees to reuse and recycle their plastic water bottles, which often end up in landfills even though they are recyclable. And it would facilitate the choice to opt for water instead of sodas or juices that are loaded with artificial sugars that contribute to obesity, Diabetes and other health problems.
“Bottled water requires the use of petroleum for the creation of plastic bottles, and extensive energy and materials are required for packaging and transport of bottled water,” county staff said.
Wasserman added that existing hydration stations, which are growing in use particularly at schools, have already shown to be “changing the behavior of kids because it’s more convenient” than a standard water fountain.
There are currently no state or local requirements for hydration stations, though certain private commercial facilities are required to install standard water fountains, the county staff report said.
The idea was first presented by Supervisor Ken Yeager in December 2013. A new ordinance would support ongoing efforts by First 5 Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the county’s Department of Public Health to bring more water bottle filling stations to schools and other public gathering places over the next three years.
First 5 SCC’s program—which is unaffiliated with the county’s proposal—to install water bottle filling stations in local schools includes three schools in Morgan Hill, according to First 5 SCC spokesman Tyson Jue. The nonprofit organization hopes to install the devices at El Toro Elementary, San Martin/Gwinn Elementary and Barrett Elementary by the end of this summer.
“First 5 has been very concerned about the rising rates of childhood obesity,” Jue said. “This is a way to increase access to water” amid the ubiquitous presence of unhealthy options.
Costs for the water bottle filling stations range from as little as $100 for a basic “gooseneck” faucet, to as much as $4,700 for a fancier “sculptured design,” according to the county staff report. Any additional plumbing or filters for the devices could add to the costs.
But Wasserman doesn’t expect much resistance from the public or developers due to the costs, primarily because any new ordinance would apply only to newly constructed buildings.
Although the city and County of San Francisco have adopted a similar water bottle filling station requirement, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors would be the first jurisdiction within the county to do so.
“Santa Clara County is very much the leader in health related” policy, Wasserman said. “I would be surprised if other cities didn’t follow.”
The proposal is currently going through the study and committee review process, and has not yet been agendized for adoption by the board of supervisors.
85: percent of recyclable plastic bottles that become garbage or litter
800: percent increase of bottled water consumption in the last 30 years
17 million: barrels of petroleum used annually to produce single serving plastic bottles