SAN JOSE, CA, July 22, 2014 -- Today, First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), of which Mrs. Obama is honorary chair, announced that FIRST 5 Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) joined the Drink Up effort, a national campaign that encourages people across the country to drink more water, more often.
FIRST 5 and SCVWD are supporting Drink Up as part of their work to increase children's access to safe, clean tap water through the funding of water bottle refilling stations, or hydration stations, in schools throughout Santa Clara County.
"With funding through the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection measure overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2012, we will be able to provide greater access to drinking water in local schools," said Beau Goldie, SCVWD CEO.
FIRST 5 has invested over $100,000 to install water hydration stations in 20 schools with early childhood centers and student populations at high-risk for obesity based on body mass index scores. SCVWD is investing roughly $250,000 over three years to fund the installation of 50 hydration stations in schools. A total of 40 stations are set to be installed by fall 2014.The Drink Up logo will be placed on the stations and will be integrated into an upcoming countywide water campaign.
"Water bottle refilling stations are a great way to encourage young people (and adults) to drink more water. Access to clean drinking water is imperative for us all, and that will continue to be our number one priority," said Brian Schmidt, vice chair of the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors.
Other supporters standing alongside FIRST 5 and SCVWD to support Drink Up and ensure people across America have access to drinking water include Brita®, Haws Corporation™, Nalgene® Outdoor Products, S'well Bottle and The California Endowment.
See also:
"P.S. Tap water counts, too"
"New advanced water purification center opens in California"
About FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is a local public agency that distributes funding from California’s Proposition 10 Tobacco Tax to early childhood programs and services in Santa Clara County. For more information, visit www.first5kids.org.
About the Santa Clara Valley Water District
The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's 1.8 million residents. The district effectively manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, a state-of-the-art water quality laboratory, nearly 400 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and more than 275 miles of streams. For more information, visit www.valleywater.org.
