Case Studies

Santa Barbara Unified School District, Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara Unified School District began a pilot hydration project in 2010 with partners from the non-profit sector that has flourished going into 2012. This experience provides an example of a school district working creatively to improve the hydration of their students. In 2010 the Community Environmental Council (CEC), with funding from the Orfalea Foundation and other private partners, installed hydration stations in Santa Barbara High School, Santa Barbara Junior High, Montecito Union Elementary and Franklin Elementary. In the first year, the hydration stations were used more than 46,000 times in the first four months!

The intiative, called "Rethink the Drink," was then renewed and implemented in additional elementary schools in Santa Barbara Unified, with students benefiting from cold, filtered drinking water and stainless steel reusable canteens. Furthermore, an education component complements the program, with CEC staff offering presentations to students, staff, and parents. For the 2011-2012 school year, Rethink the Drink is focusing on hydration among Santa Barbara's student athletes. Read the Community Environmental Council's full article here.