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Twenty-five percent of California schools noncompliant with water mandate
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One-fourth of California students reported that their schools did not offer free, fresh water during lunchtime, despite a state law that mandates its availability at all schools, according to recent research.
“California law has required schools, starting in July 2011, to provide fresh, free drinking water for their students during mealtimes, a requirement that was bolstered by a similar provision in the federal Healthy Hungry-Free Kids Act,” Laura M. Bogart, PhD, of the division of general pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, and colleagues wrote. “Despite the existence of state and federal law on school water availability, at least a quarter of California schools were not offering free water to students during lunch, and many schools offered water via fountains, which may provide insufficient water quantity and are perceived to have poor quality water.”
The researchers gathered data from the 2012 and 2013 California Health Interview Survey to determine the impact of California SB 1413. Interviews were conducted with 2,665 students aged 12 to 17 years regarding their water consumption habits during school and their access to fresh water during lunch.
Study results showed that 75.3% of students reported that their school provided free drinking water during mealtimes, with 93.3% reporting access via water fountains. Students also reported having access to free bottled water (10.1%), pitchers of water (17%) and water coolers (18.2%). The remainder of students, however, reported not having access to free drinking water at school.
The researchers noted that students in schools that offered free water, consumed more water than students in schools without access to water (P = .02)
Study results also showed that white students reported more water intake and more water access compared with black students. The researchers suggested that this disparity is possibly the result of a lack of funding earmarked for California schools to comply with SB 1413.
“A lack of an increase in some districts could suggest a need for drinking fountain upgrades or sustainable alternatives, as well as technical assistance, training, and funding to implement such improvements,” Bogart and colleagues wrote. – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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