Water fountains

Plastic water bottle overuse is a huge problem - for me personally, for Andrews corporately, and for the environment globally. A few statistics from care2.com:

• This year more than 25 billion single use plastic water bottles will be sold in the United States alone.
• More than 80 percent of those will end up being disposed of rather than being recycled (that’s 20 billion bottles added to a average landfill per year).
• Over 1.5 million barrels of oil were used to make the plastic bottles consumed in the US last year–and that doesn’t include the petroleum used to transport them.
• To put that in perspective, that’s enough petroleum to power 100,000 automobiles for a year.

Andrews University has embraced the "green culture" as an institutional idea - but fails pretty horribly on the water bottle front. As a student, the most convenient option to get good-quality water at the cafe is a plastic water bottle. The soft tap/fountain water in Berrien does not taste good; its a slimy, mineral taste--like you licked your mildewy, limey shower--and I've even heard rumors that the quality of the water is linked to health problems in the area.

So naturally, busy and intelligent students are drawn to the consistent taste and safe reputation of Dasani or Aquafina or, more recently, Deja Blue. However this creates a lot of unneeded waste. Water bottles are out the wazoo.

WHY AREN'T THEY DOING THAT??

I think a great project for the Andrews administration to undertake is a filtered water system with a strong promotional campaign.

(1) First, set up a soda fountain-like faucet that puts out FREE clean, good-tasting, filtered, safe water. Make sure it tastes good and that it's safe.

(2) Set up tables set up outside the cafe selling sustainable reusable water bottles. Hit it hard the first week. Sell water bottles for profit. $6-8/bottle. Make it clear the value students are saving by buying a reusable container (within 6-8 uses, reusable bottles pay for themselves).

(3) Advertise the program. I'm talking videos in chapel, forums for choices, and posters.

(4) Make the problem visible. Collect old plastic water bottles from students and make giant sculptures on campus that represent how many bottles we use. Make it a monetary issue. Alter the cafe program so that it rewards smart-spending and waste-reducing.

(5) Reframe the project for all plastic bottles--including sodas and juice. Get working soda fountains with reusable cups.

(6) Finally phase out plastic bottles. See how much money we save as an institution.