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Water Fountains Vs. Water Bottles in School

In the February 2008 issue of American Teacher magazine, school nurse Lucille Hollander expressed health and safety concerns about water bottles. Others debate whether water fountains are any better.

  1. Bacteria and Viruses

    • Students often reuse water bottles, which can harbor bacteria if not washed and dried properly between uses, according to plasticsinfo.org. Microbiologist Jerry Bowman says that water fountain spigots also collect germs.

    Chemical Contamination

    • Aging water fountain pipes or fixtures can leach contaminants---such as lead and arsenic---into the water, reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Interruptions

    • Teachers note that water bottles can be a distraction, causing students to miss learning opportunities.

    Spills

    • Spills and condensation from water bottles can ruin students' papers and damage computers. Spills can also lead to falls.

    Environmental Concerns

    • The environmental impact of plastic water bottles grows, reports Rachel Oliver for CNN, while the percentage of recycled bottles decreased from 1995 to 2005. Opponents of water bottles in schools point out that a ban on bottles would reduce the amount of waste.

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