Connecticut Water donates $15,000 in touchless, bottle filling stations to schools

CLINTON, Conn. - May 7, 2024- Bottle filling stations donated by Connecticut Water will help students and staff in eight schools use fewer single-use plastic bottles. The 2024 School Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program awarded filling stations to schools in Southbury, Guilford and Windsor Locks.

With the eight filling stations distributed in 2024, the program awarded 56 units to schools in 20 districts since 2020 - a value of more than $80,000. Schools report counters on school filling stations show they filled the equivalent of more than 650,000 single-use plastic bottles!

"We already know about the benefits of hydration to students throughout the school day," said Denise Poole, of Connecticut Water's Charitable Giving Committee. "But now, more than ever, the environmental and health benefits of a touchless station for refillable bottles makes sense. Based on all of the positive feedback we've received, students enjoy the bottle fill units and make good use of them."

In addition to supporting the needs of Connecticut Water's service communities, the program also aims to support Connecticut Water's commitment to the environment by promoting the use of reusable bottles. Schools and families also save money by reducing purchases of single-use bottles of water.

The 2024 water bottle filling station grant program was announced via press release and direct communication with public officials within Connecticut Water's service communities in the fall of 2023. Any public school served by Connecticut Water was eligible to apply. The deadline for applications was January 31, 2024.

The filling station donations are part of Connecticut Water's ongoing support of local communities. In 2024, the company renewed its commitment to support local non-profit and community organizations with a total charitable giving budget of $120,000. Funding is provided by Connecticut Water's Charitable Giving program and is not recovered in customer rates.

The following schools will receive fill stations:
Rochambeau Middle School Southbury
Long Meadow Elementary School Southbury
Gainfield Elementary School Southbury
Baldwin Middle School Guilford
Windsor Locks High School Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks Middle School Windsor Locks
South Street Elementary School Windsor Locks
North Street Elementary School Windsor Locks