Water filling station (Submitted photo)
Madison College has a new-fangled water bubbler to help promote tap water as the preferred beverage of choice. MATC health educator and Nurse Anna Marie Hoffmann says the high-tech water filling station dispenses refreshing ice-cold water in seconds, and a counter displays the number of plastic bottles kept from the landfill.
“I think people want to see that they’re making a difference.”
The bubbler has a space specifically designated to fit a water container, which is detected by a sensor and filled instantly with a gush of water rather than having to use the slow, curved, sipping stream on traditional fountains to refill a water bottle.
“These are very fast, the water is very cold. It literally takes seconds.”
Water filling station counter.
Hoffman discourages the drinking of soda, saying water is free of calories and sugar, and it’s essential for bodily function and ability to learn. She says giving up soda saves money. As a nurse, Hoffman suggests individuals consume enough water totaling half their body weight, in ounces. Generally, a 200 pound person would drink 100 ounces of water.
Colleges, hospitals, clinics, and larger employers are getting on board with this futuristic machine, at a cost of about 1,000 bucks each.
Each year about 50 billion plastic bottles of drinking water are purchased in the United States. According to the FDA, 44 percent of bottled water is just tap water, so people are often mislead about what they are purchasing.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:51