The HTR 500: Science and Clean Water
Case Study : Uniondale Union Free School District
Beginning in 2016 and following the horrific lead contamination of Flint, Michigan, many school districts around the country began testing for lead contamination in water. Uniondale Union Free School District on Long Island, New York was one of the school districts affected.
When we met with the Director of Facilities, we explained our ability to remediate the lead contamination. We also covered overwhelming problem with Long Island’s water quality and our ability to address those issues as well. Mr. LaBare, the Director of Facilities immediately understood our capabilities and decided that he wanted to provide the students, teachers and staff with the most powerful filtration available.
Two years later, in May 2019, Long Island’s water quality was deemed the worse in New York State, laiden with super toxins, 1,4 Dioxane and PFAS/PFOS, among many others. He did not need to take any further action as the NSF certified filtration systems he purchased in 2017 met his need against these contaminants as well.
Not only did his choice to protect against present and future risks ensure his community’s health, he also saved time, money, resources and reputation by making the best choice the first time around.
The Top 5 Reasons Schools Need Safe Drinking Water
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) operates in nearly all public schools and requires “that schools make potable water available and accessible without restriction to children at no charge in the place where lunches are served during the meal service.” In addition to the NSLP-compliant water source, state plumbing codes require a certain number of drinking fountains per capita.
Young people’s health is more acutely affected from lead, bacteria, viruses and VOCs consumption through drinking water. Lead irreversably damages brain development and reduces IQ. There is no acceptable level of lead in drinking water. Other contaminants can increase risks of certain cancers and harm reproductive health.
Safe, easily accessible and appealing water stations increase water consumption which has a direct correlation to decreased consumption of Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB), thus decreasing diabities and obesity.
Safe and attractive water stations saves money and decreases school’s carbon footprint. It’s an ideal sustainable option for expensive bottled water purchases.
Your Brain is about 85% water! When students (and adults) are hydrated, concentration, clarity and mental alertness are heightened. When you are dehydrated, your body creates an environment succeptable to illnesses, lack of energy, brain fog and hunger.
School districts across the United States are failing in the fight to provide lead-free drinking water to students. More recently and pre-Covid 19, entire university’s have been closed due to compromised water systems.
Emerging contaminants pose serious health threats and most facilities managers struggle with identifying experts in this space.
These failures cost schools hundreds of thousands of dollars and legal headaches which remain cemented in the memories of parents, students and the community at large well after the problems have been remediated.
The worse part is, when water contamination appears in the news headlines, people have already been exposed to the health risks. In many cases, for months or even years. That is why we recommend the most powerful filtration available so you will always have the greatest protection aka “insurance” against water contamination.