Water Security Experiences and Water Intake Among Elementary Students at Low-Income Schools: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine students' experiences of water security at school and how experiences relate to intake of water from different sources of water at school.

DESIGN/METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 651 students in grades 3 to 5 in 12 low-income public elementary schools in the San Francisco area completed surveys about their daily intake of water from different sources of water at school, experiences of water security including safety, cleanliness, and taste of water at school, and their demographics. Multivariable linear regressions examined associations between students' water security experiences at school and reported intake from different sources of water at school.

RESULTS

Approximately half of students were Latino (56.1%) and had overweight/obesity (50.4%). Most (74.5%) had some negative water security experience at school. Students drank from the school fountain or water bottle filling station a mean of 1.2 times/day (standard deviation [SD] = 1.4), sinks 0.2 times/day (SD = 0.7), tap water dispensers 0.2 times/day (SD = 0.6), and bottled water 0.5 times/day (SD = 1.0). In multivariable linear regression, students with more negative experiences of school water security drank less frequently from fountains (-0.5 times/day, P value < .001), but more frequently from tap water dispensers (0.1 times/day, P value = .040) and sinks (0.1 times/day, P value = .043), compared to students with no negative perceptions.

CONCLUSIONS

On average, students had negative school water security experiences, which decreased their consumption of water from tap water sources. However, relationships between negative water security experiences and reported water intake appeared to be mitigated by water source. Schools should consider installing more appealing water sources to promote water intake.

Community-Based Policies and Support for Free Drinking Water Access in Outdoor Areas and Building Standards in U.S. Municipalities

We examined community-level characteristics associated with free drinking water access policies in U.S. municipalities using data from a nationally representative survey of city managers/officials from 2,029 local governments in 2014. Outcomes were 4 free drinking water access policies. Explanatory measures were population size, rural/urban status, census region, poverty prevalence, education, and racial/ethnic composition. We used multivariable logistic regression to test differences and presented only significant findings. Many (56.3%) local governments had at least one community plan with a written objective to provide free drinking water in outdoor areas; municipalities in the Northeast and South regions and municipalities with ≤ 50% of non-Hispanic whites were less likely and municipalities with larger population size were more likely to have a plan. About 59% had polices/budget provisions for free drinking water in parks/outdoor recreation areas; municipalities in the Northeast and South regions were less likely and municipalities with larger population size were more likely to have it. Only 9.3% provided development incentives for placing drinking fountains in outdoor, publicly accessible areas; municipalities with larger population size were more likely to have it. Only 7.7% had a municipal plumbing code with a drinking fountain standard that differed from the statewide plumbing code; municipalities with a lower proportion of non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have it. In conclusion, over half of municipalities had written plans or a provision for providing free drinking water in parks, but providing development incentives or having a local plumbing code provision were rare.

Public Perception of Quality and Support for Required Access to Drinking Water in Schools and Parks

PURPOSE

We assessed public support for required water access in schools and parks and perceived safety and taste of water in these settings to inform efforts to increase access to and consumption of tap water.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey of the US public collected from August to November 2011.

SETTING

Random digit-dialed telephone survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants (n = 1218) aged 17 and older from 1055 US counties in 46 states.

MEASURES

Perceived safety and taste of water in schools and parks as well as support for required access to water in these settings.

ANALYSIS

Survey-adjusted perceived safety and taste as well as support for required access were estimated.

RESULTS

There was broad support for required access to water throughout the day in schools (96%) and parks (89%). Few participants believed water was unsafe in schools (10%) or parks (18%).

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence of public support for efforts to increase access to drinking water in schools and parks and documents overall high levels of perceived taste and safety of water provided in these settings.