Government

School district saves 7M plastic bottles using water refill stations

Image: Flowater

November 20, 2023

Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, California, and its water fountains provider, FloWater, have saved 7 million single-use plastic water bottles from entering the environment since deploying FloWater refill stations in district schools four years ago, according to a press release.

The district is now expanding the FloWater program by adding 85 new FloWater refill stations to schools.

The machines provide additional protection by removing contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics from the water that the OUSD community consumes.

The first initiative in 2019 included 85 refill stations and was funded with Alameda County funds and revenue from Oakland's soda tax, a measure passed in 2016 to help fight childhood obesity and educate the public on the health risks of drinking soda.