filtered water stations on western michigan university's campus:
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FilteredWaterStationsonWesternMichiganUniversity’sCampus:
ASustainableAlternativetoBottledWater
ByAlexSecrest&KimShafer
ENVS4100:AppropriateTechnologyandSustainabilityTheCampusasaLivingLaboratory
Dr.HaroldGlasserSpring2010
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II.TableofContentsI. ExecutiveSummary 3
II. Introduction 4
III. MethodologyandData 7
IV. ExamplesofBestPracticesonWMU’sCampus 7
V. ExamplesofBestPracticesonOtherCampuses 8
1.)UniversityofBoulderatColorado
2.)KalamazooCollege
3.)PortlandStateUniversity
4.)GrandValleyStateUniversity
VI. Discussion 11
VII. LimitationsofAnalysis&FutureWork 12
VIII. Conclusions/Recommendations 13
IX. References 15
X. Appendices 18
I.AuthorContacts 18
II.ContactList&EmailCommunicationLog 18
III.SurveyQuestions&Results 27
IV.Student’sBottleEvaluation 32
V.CampusDrinkingFountainEvaluation 34
VI.ThomasReich’sTestingofWaterFountains 35
VII.CostComparisonofFiltrationMachines 36
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I.Summary
Therearesignificantupstreamanddownstreamconsequencesfromtheproduction,transportation,anddisposalofbottledwater.Becausehealthyandsafealternativesexist,thatresultinfewergreenhousegasemissionsandlowercost,webelievemoreeffortshouldbeputintocreatingsustainablealternativesoncampus.RatherthanterminatingourcontractwithCoca‐Cola,wesuggestfortheretobefreefilteredwateravailabletostudents,faculty,andstaff.WebelievethatbydoingsothiswillmakeWMUstandoutinitseffortstoactasasustainabilityleader.Reducingourconsumptionofplastictogetherasacampuscommunity,wouldhelptheuniversityreduceourgreenhousegasemissions(GHG)aswellasprovideawiderangeofeconomicandsocialbenefits.
Packagingisacrucialcomponentofbottledwater.Bottlesprovidecontextualsuggestionsabouttheproductandaremarketedtoattractbuyers.Itissomethinginwhichconsumerscanidentifyandrelateto.Inadditiontoitspackaging,thewatersourcethatislabeledonthebottlemayinfluencechoiceofconsumption.Manycorporationsmayusepicturesofpristinemountainsandwatersourcesonthelabels.AccordingtotheNationalResourceDefenseCouncil,bothCoca‐Cola'sDasaniandPepsi'sAquafina,twoofthebiggestbrandsintheworld,originatenotfrommountainspringsorarcticglaciers,butfrompublicdrinkingwaterfacilities.Bothcompaniespointoutontheirbottlesbylabelingit"purifieddrinkingwater,"butallregulateddrinkingwaterispurified.
Bottledwaterisfarmoreexpensivethanwaterprovidedbyourmunicipalsources.Littletonoevidenceexistssuggestingthatbottledwateriscleanerthantapwater.BottledwaterisregulatedbythefederalgovernmentasafoodproductbytheFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA);whereas,theEPAroutinelyregulatesmunicipalwater.
AgrowingnumberofHigherEducationInstitutionshavealreadybeguntoeliminatethesaleofbottledwater.AccordingtoAASHE,sixuniversitieshavebeensuccessfulincampus‐widebottledwaterbans.Althoughwearenotsuggestingbanningthemaltogether,wearehowever,proposingalternativecourseofactionswhichsupportourobjectivestoreduceourGHGemissionsoncampus.AASHEalsoprovidesuniversitieswithvariousbottledwaterpoliciessuchas,studentcampaignstoencourageandreducebottledwaterconsumption,aswellascampaignstobanbottledwaterinspecificareaslikeuniversityevents,meetings,andcommencementceremonies,tonameafew.Theyaredoingsobasedonstudiesthatsuggestbottledwaterhasnegativesocialandenvironmentalimpactsandfurthermore,thatbottledwaterisproducedunderlowerhealthandsafetystandardsthanpublicortapwater.
Studentsinparticular,embracevariousreasonsforchoosingtodrinkbottledwaterinsteadoftapwater.Manyofwhichtakepersonalsatisfactioninbelievingthatwatersoldinaplasticcontainerissomehowbetterforyou.Ingeneral,societyhasdeemedtapwatertobethevillain.Thewideacceptanceofbottledwaterhasabsorbedasapartofourculturetoday.Ifwelookatourlocalactivitiesanddaytoday
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encounters,wecanallwitnesstheprevalenceofthisdetrimentalcommodity.Truthfully,weoughttobemoreconcernedaboutcorporationssuchasNestle,
Pepsi,andCoke,whichareamongmanythatareprivatizingfreshwatersupplies(ElizabethRoyte,Bottlemania).Bearinmindthatthesecorporationsareearningahugeprofitfromsellingwaterasacommodity.Inaddition,thesebottledwatermanufacturerscontinuetoaddanextensiveamountofgreenhousegasesintheirproductionanddistributionprocesses.
Drawingfromresultsofoursurveywithstudiesonunderstandingconsumers’preferences,thereasonsforbottledwaterconsumptionseemedtobevaried.Themainconclusionisthatpeoplegenerallyvalue“goodqualitywater”andmanyarepreparedtospendupto10,000timesmoreforitbecausetheyperceivetobea“purer”or“healthier”product.Iffilteredwateriswhatstudentsprefer,thenwewouldliketorecommendthatWMUshouldmakealternativeoptionsavailableinamoresustainablemanner.
Werecommendforafilteredwaterstationatakey,welltradedlocation,suchastheBernhardCenter.Giventhehighcapitalcoststhatanorganizedplanmayrequire,itisessentialtoknowwhatstrategieswillworkbeforeaplancanbescaledup.TheSustainabilityFundisagreatopportunityforthisprojecttolaunchoncampusandtocontinueitslifecycleoffine‐tuning.ConductingapilotwillbethemostcrucialstepforWMUinordertoevaluatewhetherornotit’slikelytobeeffective.Ourprojectproposalsetsthefoundationforstudentstocontinuemakingimprovementsastheuniversityitselfmakesincrementalstridesasaleaderinsustainability. II.Introduction
Howdidbottledwaterbecomesopopularinfirstplace?Whatdoesitmeanthatweareabandoningourmunicipalsupplies?Toanswerthefirstquestion,bottledwaterstartedoutasanichemarkettwentyyearsago,marketedtowardsthewealthydemographic.Theyhavebecomesoubiquitousnowthatweinvolvetheminoureverydayroutines.
Thetremendousamountofwastethatgoesintotheproduction,distribution,anddisposaloftheonetimeusageofplasticwaterbottlesbringforthasignificantmatterofconcern.Astheplasticindustrycontinuestogrow,andcorporationscontinuetocontendthattheyareallowedtoprivatizewater,therehasbeenacorrelatingincreaseintoxicpollution(bothtotheenvironmentandtohumans). AccordingtoastudyconductedbythePacificInstitute,bottledwaterraisesseriousconcernsabouttheenergyandwaterresourcesrequiredtoproducebottlesanddeliverthemtoconsumers.Theprocessofbottlingwaterproducesmorethan2.5milliontonsofcarbondioxideinayear,andittakes3litersofwatertoproduce1literofbottledwater.Transportingbottledwateralsorequiresmillionsinbarrelsofoil(PacificInstitute).
Takealookaroundyou,mostofwhatweeat,drink,orusecomesprepackagedinpetroleum‐basedplastic,amaterialdesignedtolastforever,yetusedforproducts
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thatwethenthrowaway.Plasticwaterbottlesarerarelyrecycledinaclosedloop.Ratherthanbeingrecycled,86percentofwaterbottlesarethrownaway. Plasticisamajorcontributorofpollution;itgathersintheearth’sdynamicwatersystemswhichthreatensaquaticecosystems.Scientistshavefoundsignificantamountsofplasticparticlesinthestomachsofmarineanimals.Youmightask,“Whatisthesignificanceofthis?”Humanswhoconsumefishmightbeconcernedbecauseitcouldhaveaneffectontheirhealthaswell.Soyousee,thereareupstreamanddownstreamcosts.
Mostplasticcannotberecycledinaclosedloopbecausetheplasticmateriallowerssignificantlyintherecyclingprocess.Forthelasttwodecades,TheAmericanPlasticsCouncil(APC)haspromotedplasticrecyclingasbeingeasy,economical,andsuccessfulwhilesimultaneouslyencouragingtheuseofmoreandmoreplastic.AccordingtotheEnvironmentalDefenseFund,duringtheAPC’seightmonthadvertisingcampaignto“TakeAnotherLookatPlastics,”15billionpoundsofplasticwereproducedinthemeantimeandonly1billionweretakenbackandrecycled.Thegrowthofnewplasticproductscontinuestooutpacethegrowthofplasticproductrecyclingbyafactorof14to1.(EnvironmentalDefenseFund,"Somethingtohide:Thesorrystateofplasticsrecycling,"October21,1997). Wearefacedwiththematterthatbottledwateriswidelyacceptedandperceivedtobe“better”thantapwater.Fromoursurvey,webelievebottledwateractsasapure,tasty,convenientalternativeforstudentsratherthanmakinguseofthecampustapanddrinkingfountains.Oursurveyalsosuggeststwomaincontributingfactors:convenienceandtaste.Furthermore,webelieveawiderangeofnegativeperceptionsofthecampusdrinkingfountainsexist,whichservetoupholdtheirbehavioralandsocialreasoningtocometoadecisiontodispense$1.25forwater.Fromanobjectiveperspective,bottledwaterisnotnecessarily“better”or“worse”thantapwater.
Notsurprisingly,bottledwaterconsumptionissometimeshigherincommunitiesthathaveseriousproblemswiththeirtapwater.Waterscarcityisacriticalissueinmanylessdevelopedandafewdevelopedpartsoftheworld.Morethan2.5billionpeoplelackaccesstocleandrinkingwaterbecausetheydonothavethenecessaryinfrastructuretofiltercontaminatedwater(ActiveWater,2010).InAmerica,wearefortunateenoughtohavedrinkingwaterthatisregulatedbytheEPAtoensureitissafetodrink.Likewise,therearehealthrisksrelatedtodrinkingbottledwater.Similarcaseshaveoccurredwherebottledwaterhavebeencontaminatedwithcarcinogens.Inamorerecentcase,Coca‐ColadecidedtoremoveDasanifromtheUKmarket,afterfindingoutthatthelevelsofbromate,apotentialcarcinogen,exceededlegalstandards.
AgrowingnumberofHigherEducationInstitutionsareincreasingtheireffortstoreduceprivatizationofbottledwateroncampus.Forasocialstrategywarrantingchangetobeeffective,wemustsortthroughcompetingsystemsanddiscoverthebarriersthatinhibitstudentsfromengaginginthealternativeactivityweaimtofoster.Wefollowedaseriesofstepstobeginrevealingsomeofthebarrierswesetouttoidentify.Itwouldbeappropriatetouncovertheselfbenefitsstudentsbelieveare
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associatedwithengagingthisalternativemovement.Weneedtodetermineandovercomethebarrierstotapwaterandfountainuse
atWMUinordertoreduceconsumptionofbottledwater.Fromoursurvey,westudiedthesocialaspectsthatstudentshaveonbottledwater.
Thestepswetooktorevealtheconstrainingbarrierswere:1)Conductasurveywitharandomsampleofstudents.Thesurveysupplieddataforthetypesofbarriersweaimedtodiscover.2)Conductanotherstudyusingourowncriteriaforjudgingtheconditionsofthedrinkingfountainsoncampus.Todothis,wemadeacolumnedchartthatfirstnamedthelocationswevisited,followedbyanexteriorauditanditsstateofworkingorder(AppendixV).3)Theinformationwasthengatheredandcomparedfromourtwosurveysandpresentedtomakeourcase. Ourultimatepurposeofthisprojectistomakefilteredwateravailableoncampusforfree.WMUhastheopportunitytosubstituteanenergyintensivebehaviorforonethatachievesagreatersustainableobjective;onethataimstoreduceunnecessarywastesandenergyconsumptionassociatedwiththelifecycleintheproduction,transportation,anddistributionofplastic.Itisimportanttoconsiderthemanyimpactsthathaveabearingontheenvironment. Ifpeoplehaveaccesstogoodqualitytapwater,theyshoulduseit.Onthecontrary,whatwe’vegatheredfromoursamplesurveyisthattheconditionoffountaintapwaterinfluenceshisorherdecisiontodrinkfromthem.Wehavedevelopedaproposalwhichaimstoprovideanoptimalsolutionfortheuniversityaswellasmakehighqualitydrinkingwateravailabletothecampuscommunity.Together,itwillbepairedwithaprogramtoencouragetheuseofreusablecontainers.Ourgoalswillbetoreducetheuseofplasticbottles,decreasethebarriersthatstudentsarefacedwithconcerningcampusdrinkingwateroptions,andsupporttheprimeselectedreusablecontainersfromKleanKanteen. Toputfiltereddrinkingstationsintoeffectwouldserveasanactioniteminourpromotiontodecreasetheamountofwasteweproducetogetherasacampus.Manufacturingisonlythefirststepinanenergyintensiveprocessofconsumingwaterinplasticwaterbottles.Incontrasttotapwater,thetransportingbottledwaterinvolvesburningmassivequantitiesoffossilfuels.Roughly80‐86percentofplasticwaterbottlesendupasgarbageandtheonlymaterialthatcanberecycledisthematerialknownasPET.IfthemanufacturerusesPETfortheirbottlingpractices,theyarerequiredtonameitonthebottle,whichisusuallylocatedonthebottom. WMUischallengedtoexpanditsexistingsustainabilityeffortsandcommitmentsbyunderliningthestoriesofsuccessfulmodelsofsustainabilityfunctionsandactivities.AsidentifiedintheACUPCCStrategicSustainabilityInitiativesReport,“weneedtocreateandinstitutionalizeprocessesfor:1)developingopen,collaborativesustainabilitystrategicplanning;2)identifyingandallocatingthenecessaryresourcestosuccessfullyimplementourplans;and3)settingbothachievablegoalsandtargetsandmeasuringandtrackingoursuccesstostimulateimprovement.”(ACUPCC)
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III.MethodologyandData Sincethereisnopastprojectwhichrelatestofilteredwaterstationsbeinginstalledoncampus,ourprimarymissionwastodevelopastudentsurveytoseehowiftherewasstudentsupportinmakingfilteredwateravailableatnocosttothem.Anotherkeypointwehuntedtoinvestigatewerethepurchasinghabitsofstudentsofbottledwater.Forexample,weasked“Whereyourprimarysourceofdrinkingcomesfrom”,“Atwhatquantitydoyoupurchase”,andgeneralreasonsfordrinkingbottledwaterversusothersources.Weexpectedahigherpercentageofstudentstopurchasebottledwater.Ourresultshowever,weretheopposite.Thiscouldpartlybeduetothedesignofsomeofthequestions. Inadditiontoseekingstudent’sperceptionsofthefountains,weexaminedtheconditionsourselves.Inourevaluationweincludedtowhatextenttheindividualfountainsoperatedaswellasthesmell,taste,andappearanceofthem.Theresultsfromtestingrevealedanewlight;suddenly,ourgeneralperceptionsofthefountainswerenotasterribleasweinitiallypredictedthemtobe.Onaverage,mostweresatisfactorywithafewexceptions. Wewantedtobegingroundworkforintroducingahighqualitystainlesssteelwaterbottle,availableatWMUbookstore.Wesearchedforcompanieswhosefoundationsarededicatedtosustainablemanufacturing.Wethenfocusedaquestiononthesurveyofwhetherornotstudentswouldpurchaseahighqualitywaterbottle.Whenitcametothewaterbottles,alotofpastresearchwasalreadycompleteontheEcoMug,suchasifthecompanymanufacturesitsproductsbasedonsoundpractices.ThegroupofstudentswhohaveworkedontheEcoMuginthepastalsoconductedaseriesofteststodecidetheproduct’sdurability.Thisworkhelpedusdecidewhichcompaniestopurchasesamplesfrom.Wedecidedtogathersamplesfromtwocompanies,TheExpressLineandKleanKanteen. Afterlookingatthemanywaterbottleoptionsofferedinthecampusbookstores,startingfromanarrayofplastictoaluminum,werealizedagoodqualitybottlemadefromstainlesssteelisnotavailabletopurchase.Thatisthereasoningforsearchingforsomethingthatisofhigherqualityforstudents.Oncewefoundthetwocompanieswedesiredforthetest,wedistributedsomesamplestothestudentsinourclass.Theirhomeworkwastotestthewaterbottlesineverywaypossiblethatwouldrevealitsdurabilityandoveralllikeness.(SeeAppendixIV)IV.ExamplesofBestPracticeonCampus Whilesomecreationoffootingwasstartedbyaresearchundergraduate,weareessentiallyembarkinguponafresh,newinitiative.Chris,theresearchundergraduate,exploredvaluableinformationcomparingthecostsassociatedwithsomeofthedifferentoptionsoffiltrationmachines.Chrisalsoconductedablindtastetestthat
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offeredtwotypesofwater:ReverseOsmosisandFilteredwater.Theresultsfromthesmalltestingrevealedthatoverallitwasanevenlydividedpreference. Perhapsthemostvaluablepieceofdatacamefromaresource(ThomasReich)thatperformedwaterqualitytestsatfivedifferentlocationsoncampus(SeeAppendixVI).Hissamplingsindicatedthatthewaterqualityisindeedsafe.Ifthisistrue,thentheremustbeareasonwhystudentsstillpreferbottledwaterovertapwater.Asweinitiallypredictedaboutthewater’squality,thereweresizeableamountsofIron.Ironissignificantbecauseithasaneffectonthewater’stasteandappearance.Wehaveidentifiedtastetobethesinglemostcontributingfactortowhystudentsaremotivatedtodrinkbottledwaterinsteadoftapwater.Theevidenceisthere,andthatshowsthatthewaterisadequate;however,itdoesnotdenythefactthatthetasteofthewaterisnotdesirable.Inordertofindoutwhy,weusedoursurveytocorrelatestudents’opinionsandperceptionsofthedrinkingfountainconditionswithourownfindingsfromexaminingthefountains.
Moreover,eventhoughwearepresentedwithevidencethatourwaterqualityoncampusisbelowthelevelofconcern,thesetestsshouldbeusedasabasisforfurtherinvestigationbyextendingtoperformmoretests.V.ExamplesofBestPracticeonOtherCampuses Inparticular,ColoradoatBoulderwasaleadingmodelinourinitiative.Ourpremiseisthatsuccessfulpositivechangeshaveoccurredatuniversitieswhenstudents,withthesupportoffaculty,developinnovativeprojectsandsolutionstoaddressourpastandpresentunsustainablebehaviors.Collegesaremagnetsforresourcesandinterestingpeople,ideas,andprojectsthatcanhavesignificantimpactontheircommunity’ssustainabledevelopmentefforts.
Inanefforttoprotecttheenvironment,universitiesarebecomingleadersinecoculturalsustainabilitybyconsideringalternativeoptionsthatwillprovidefilteredwaterstationsinsteadofbottledwater.Belowarethemajoruniversitiesthathaveinfluencedusonthepathforourproposal.OurbiggestinfluenceswereCUatBoulderandKalamazooCollege.Althoughwedidnothavetheextendedamountoftimeorfinancialresourcesavailabletousatthetimetoexecuteourproposalforapilot,wemirroredsomeoftheirstepsbecausetheyweresuccessfulinimplementingsustainablewaterpracticesontheircampuses.
UniversityofBoulderatColorado Thepracticesatthisuniversitywerethemostinfluentialtousbecausethestudentswhoworkedonitclearlydefinedtheirplaceandgoalsinitsmissiontochangingattitudesandinfluencingsustainablebehaviors.Students,faculty,andstaffat
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UniversityofBoulderatColoradostartedoutbyrecognizingcurrentunsoundactivitiesoncampus;whichiswhatwehavesetforthtoexpose. Inthelastdecade,studentbodysupportatBoulderColoradohasblossomedsinceitbeganitsearlystagesoftransformationasauniversityleaderinshiftingtowardaminimalimpactlifestyle.Boulder’slifecyclebeganin2008,whenDiningServicesfirstlaunchedfilteredwaterstationsasapilotindininghalls.Subsequenttotheinstallation,theirnextstepwastoincreasethepopularitybyusingincentivesandotherpublicawarenesstools.WiththehelpofdedicatedmemberswhofirstlaunchedabottledwaterteamandwiththesupportofDiningServices,CoordinatorofNutritionandSales,CoordinatorforFacilities,andCoordinatorforProcurement,thishardworkingteamwasabletosuccessfullyoutlineproblemsoncampus. AccordingtoDiningServices,thepresenceofthefilteredwaterstationshadmadelittleornoimpactonthelargeamountofbottlewaste.Wefurtherinvestigatethislowusagerateandtoprovidesuggestionsforimprovements,whichwaspairedwiththerequesttoencouragetheuseofreusablemugs.Ourownmissionwassimilartotheirs,withtheexceptionthatWMUdoesnotalreadyownfilteredstationsandwesetouttoencouragereusablewaterbottlesinsteadofmugs.AkeyactionplanforCUatBoulderinvolveddesigningcreativesignsthattogetherpromoteandhelpeducatestudentsabouttheuseoffilteredwaterstationsasahealthyalternative. LikeWMU,bottledwateronBoulder’scampusisproducedbytheCoca‐ColaCorporationalongwithafewothers.Theytookitastepfurtherandcalculatedtheapproximatehealthandecologicalfootprintsconcerningthemanufacturingofthevarioustypesofplasticbottles.ThismodelwouldbeveryimportanttoWMUinthefutureandwouldserveasahugeleverageforinitiatingachange.Althoughpaststudentshavedevelopedaformulatosummarizetheschool’sgreenhousegasemissions,notallactivitieshavebeenmeasured.Calculatingtheenergyuse,wouldassiststudentenvironmentalresearcherstogathermorequantitativedataandcalculateresultsintothepreviouswork. Thestudentsputupsignsabovethewaterfiltrationstations.Withoutexplainingwhatitisandthereasonforitbeingthere,studentswouldhavelittleideaandwouldeasilypassitby.Wedecidedthatitwouldbeagreatideatoputupourmuralsandposterstocatchtheattentionofpassingstudents. Theirsurveyobservationsofferedperceptionaboutthehighrateofbottledwateruse.KalamazooCollege
Inthe2007‐2008schoolyear,theenvironmentalorganizationatKCollegeinitiatedacampaigntospreadawarenessabouttheimpactsofunsustainablebehaviorsonfreshwatersupplies.KCollege’sactionplanbeganwithathreepartcampaignthatisapartoftheCollege’sclimatecommitmentplanandefforttoreducetheconsumptionofbottledwateroncampus.Theenvironmentalorganizationfirstdirectedtheirefforttowardsmakingavisualillustrationofemptywaterbottlesandhungthemoncampus.
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Thenextstepwastosetupatableinthecafeteriatosellreusablewaterbottlesandalsotoencouragestudentstosignpledgestoreduceoreliminatebottledwaterconsumption.TheircampaignwaspartoftheThinkOutsidetheBottleCampaign.“Thisisacampaigntopromote,protect,andensurepublicfundingforourwatersystems”(thinkoutsidethebottle.org)PortlandStateUniversity
Portland’sEnvironmentalClubinitiatedapubliccampaigncalled“TakeBacktheTap,”anorganizedcampaigntoreducetheuseofplasticbottlesonPSU’scampus.
TheireffortsofleadershipwerepublishedinThePortlandTribune.Indoingso,theirawarenessreachedevenmoreindividualswhichencouragedparticipationandsupportintheirstrivingactionstowardecoculturalsustainability.Again,thisstressestheimportanceofpublicawarenessprogramsasatoolforchangingsocialbehavior.GrandValleyStateUniversity StudentonTapisacommitteeatGrandValleyStateUniversity.JoshLyckastatedthatthecommittee’smainareaoffocusisdirectlyrootedineducation.Thisgroupofstudentsstronglybelieveeducatingthepublicabouttheactualupstreamanddownstreamcostsofbottledwateriswhatfuelssupportfortheirinitiative. StudentsonTapisjustgettingthecampaignstarted,butalreadytheyhaveschemedpossiblealternativesforstudentsshouldthecampaignbesuccessful.Someofthosealternativesinclude:reverseosmosiswaterstations,gettingreusablewaterbottlesouttostudents,andhavingacheck‐outsystemforstudentswheretheycanrentorborrowareusablebottleintheeventtheydonotcarrytheirown.Thislastideapresentsobviouspotentialhealthissues,aswellastakinginconvenienceintoconsideration,whichiswhywechosenottoincorporateit. VI.DiscussionAnalysisofDrinkingFountainsandSurveyResults
Ourfindingsofsomeofthecampusdrinkingfountainswereforthemostpart,fairlysimilar.Whenwefirststartedourproject,ourinitialperceptionsofthedrinkingfountainswereverypoor;weexpectedthemtobedirtyandundesirabletodrinkfrom.
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However,wefoundsurprisingopposingresultsonceweevaluatedthem.Tosummarizeourresults,wefoundthatcorrodedresiduetendedtoaccumulate
onmanyofthefountain’sspout.Thischaracteristic,whichremainedconsistentasweexaminedseveralfountains,consistedofacombinationofwhite,blue‐greencrud.Althoughthisappearstobedispleasingforusers,itdoesn’tchangethefactthatthewatercomingoutfromthefountainisjustassufficient,orevenmoreso,thanthewaterthatispumpedfromafarawaysourcebybottlewatercorporations.
Fromtheresultsofoursurvey,therewere71.6percentoftheresponseswhichstatedthattheconditionofthecampusdrinkingfountainsaffectstheirdecisiontousethem.Furthermore,63.3percentoftherespondentsstatedthatlackofcleanlinessiswhatdisappointsthemaboutthedrinkingfountains.Otherdeterminingcharacteristicsworthmentioningaremalfunctionsofthemachine(i.e.watershootsouttoosoftly,ortoorapidly),51.4percentandtasteofthewater,66.1percent.Together,thesenumbersprovideevidencethattheappearanceofthefountainastheuserapproachesitforadrinkwillgreatlydirecthisorherdecisiontodrinkfromit.Ifthisisindeedtrue,weneedtoexamineanactionplantoadjustusers’behaviortotakeadvantageofthewaterthatissuppliedbyourlocalwatersystemsinsteadofsupportingtheprivatizationofwaterthatisboughtandsoldbycorporatecompanies.Byswitchingfrombottledwatertoasourcethatistreatedlocallyandprovidedatamuchlowercosttothecommunity,wewouldbesupportingfurtherinvestmenttowardfutureimprovementsofthecity’smunicipalsystem.
Iffilteredwatersystemswereinstalledoncampus,86.2percentofstudentswouldbelikelytousethem.Thisnumber,althoughtakenfromasmallpopulationsample,mayprovideenoughevidencethatwouldsuggestalargersamplewouldlikewisecounterthesameanswer. Thelocationofapilotisobviouslyoneofthemostimportantfactorsinitssuccess,sowesetouttoaskstudentswhatwouldbeadesirablelocationtofilluptheirreusablewatercontainers.84.2percentofstudentsthatparticipatedinoursurveysaidthattheywouldusethefilteredwaterstationsiftheywerelocatedintheBernhardCenter.Wegavethemanoptiontoalsosuggesttheirownlocationidea.Amongthemwere:theResidenceHalls,Sangren,SprauTower,andParkview.Tosetupafiltrationmachinethiswouldcallforanexpensiveupfrontcost.Nevertheless,theuniversityisresponsiblefortheremovalofitslitterandrecycledproducts;andbyreducingourconsumptionofmerelynonreusableplasticwaterbottles,wouldalonesaveagreatdealofmoney. OurfirstandonlyscenariowouldbeforthepilotmachinetobeinstalledinsidetheBernhardCenter.Wechosenottoexploreotherlocationsbecausewewantedtofocusmainlyonapracticallocationoncampustoconductatrial.
Oneofoptionsofamachinewefoundwasthe“ElkayEXH20BottleFillingStation.”Wehavealsocomeupwithotherfiltrationmachines(SeeAppendixVII).
Ourmostlimitingfactorwastime,especiallysincetherewasnotalotofgroundworktoassistinthebeginningphasesofourproposal.Weinitiallyhadsomanyaspirationsofwhatwehadhopedtoaccomplish,butsimplydidnothavetheamountoftimeitwouldrequire.
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AnalysisofWaterBottles
Wedecidedthatthere‐reusablewaterbottlesthatweprovideshouldbestainlesssteel.Ourdecisionwasbaseduponthatthereisnocurrentevidencethatstainlesssteelwaterbottlesleachharmfulchemicalsanddonotretainflavors.Moreimportantly,stainlesssteelismuchmoredurablethanplastic,lastslonger,andisBPAfree.Sincestainlesssteelisalreadyasafealternativetoaluminumandplastics,itdoesnotneedtobelinedforprotection.LinersinreusablewaterbottlesusuallycontainBPA,aharmfulsubstancethathasbeenconnectedtonumerousillnesses.Thestainlesssteelwaterbottlesdonottakeonotherflavorsduetothelackofaliner.Otherbenefitstostainlesssteelwaterbottlesincludethedurabilityassociatedwithusingacombinationofchromiumandnickel.Usedtogether,theresistancetostainsandrustisincreased.Also,stainlesssteelprovidesaneasytocleansurfacethatallowsforamoresanitarywaterbottle.Thehealthbenefitsassociatedwithstainlesssteelarereasonenoughtopreferastainlesssteelwaterbottle,therestarejustaddedbenefits. VII.LimitationsofAnalysis&FutureWork Limitations
Oneofthemajorproblemsweencounteredwasgettingoursurveysentoutto
students’e‐mails.Wespenttwodaysattheflagpolestobotheducatestudentsaboutourinitiativeandsurveyingthem.Duringthosetwodays,wecollectedapproximately70to85responsesandtherestwerecollectedfromonlineresponses.Webelievesurveyingattheflagpoleswasasuccessfulleverage,thoughitdidn’treachasmanystudentsaswehadhopedfor.Wee‐mailedseveraladvisors,departmentchairs,andprofessorstoseeiftheywoulddistributeoursurveytotheirlistserverofstudents.Wefoundthatindeed,themostchallengingpartwasgettingtheapprovalthatwasneededfromtheHSIRB.Timewasthefactorinthismatterbecauseitwouldtakemonthsforthemtoapprovethatit.
OursurveywasthefirstofitskindatWMU,therefore,thereisalottolearnfromit.Werealizedthatsomeofthequestionsmayneedtobemoredirectorrephrased.
ThePhysicalPlantwouldbemostresistanttoinstallingandmaintainingwaterstationsbecauseoftheextralaborandcostsitwouldrequire.
FutureWork
• Sincethemanufactures,EarthtoEarth,arewillingtoworkwithWMUto
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improvethestainlesssteelwaterbottlesthatwetested,futureworkisrequiredsothatWMUwillbeabletoofferahighqualitystainlesssteelwaterbottleatthecampusbookstores.
• Educationoutreachcampaigntobringawarenessofgreenhousegasemissionsassociatedwiththeproduction,transportation,etc.
• Furthertestingonmanyotherdrinkingfountains(ThomasReich).
• ContinuetotryandaccessCoca‐colacontract.
• Pilotoffilteredwatermachine(seeAppendixVII).
VIII.Conclusion/Recommendations Concerningthesurvey,wefeltitdidnotreachthepopulationdesired.Atfirstwedidn’tbelievethesurveywasgoingtobeakeysteppingpoint.Ontheotherhand,weconcludedthatitwasfarmoreimportantaspartofourcourseofaction.Werealizedthroughthesurveythatstudentsupportwascriticalandhearinghowthestudentsreallyfeelwassignificantbecauseultimately,ifstudentsdon’tcare,whyshouldtheuniversityfinditnecessarytoinstallexpensivemachines? Afterreviewingthesurvey,wethoughtitwouldbehelpfultoaddthefollowingquestion“Doyoupurchasebottledwater,”inayesornoformat.Itwouldhavebeenalotmoredirectandwewouldhaveobtainedasamplestatisticthatsupportstheirreasonwhytheychosetodrinkbottledwater.Inaddition,itcouldalsopresentsupportingdatatowardsthestrikingnumberofplasticwasteonWesternMichiganUniversity’scampus. Afterfurtherrefiningourproposalinitiative,weaimforittobereviewedandacceptedbytheSustainableFundBoard.Thefundcanprovidesufficientfundingthatisneedforthisproject.Amajordrawbackistheinitialcapitalcostsrelatedtothemachines.Forinstance,itwouldrequireanextensiveamountofadditionallabortoinstallandcontinuallymaintainthemachinestomakesuretheyareinproperworkingstatus.Inorderfortheuniversitytofinditpracticaltoinvestinthisproject,itmustbeconsiderablyinexpensive.Weprovideacostcomparisonofsomeoftheelevatedpossibilitiesofmachineoptions(AppendixVII). Wedidn’tfollowtheexactmannerofproceduresthatthesuccessfuluniversitiesinourbestpracticemodelscarriedoutmainlybecauseourschool’scircumstancesareslightlydifferent.Forexample,atCUatBoulder,theirfilteredwaterstationswereimplementedintodininghalls,whichtheyplacedoncountertopsthatbecamepartof
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theircafeteriaoperation.Inourgivencase,thetestpilotlocatedanywhereoncampuswouldneedtobeasomethingstudentscanidentifyeasilysotheywillmakeuseofit.TheBernhardCenterisanidealplacetopilotafiltrationmachine.Oneofthewaystodeterminewhetherit’sbeingusedbythestudentsistodocumentthenumberoftimesthemachinehasbeenusedinagivenday,week,and/ormonth.Apossiblewayofachievingthiswouldbetoinstallasystemtoswipeastudent’sBroncoIDcard.Theswipingsystemwouldalsotelluswho’susingitandamongthestudentswhoare,howoftenandatwhatgiventimesitisbeingused. Ahighpriorityrecommendationforthenextgroupofstudentswhocarryonwiththisproject,wewouldstronglysuggesttocombinetwoformsofqualitativeresearchthatwouldbeusefultoidentifybarriersandbenefits:observationalstudiesandalargefocusgroupsurveystudy. Suggestedobservationalstudiesofthisprojectinvolvewatchingstudentscarryoutachosenbehaviorinadirectmanner.Itwouldbeidealtoobservefirsthandstudentbehaviorsinconnectiontothedrinkingfountains,suchasrecordingtheiractionsandusage.Furthermore,aplanonceapilotisinstalledattheBernhardwouldbetoobserveandrecordstudents’behaviortodetermineifthereisasocialchange.Directobservationswouldbeaveryvaluabletechniquebecauseitwouldbypasslimitationsofexaggeratedresponseswhenaskingstudentstoselfreportabouttheirpersonalbehaviorsbysurvey. Afterexecutionofoursurvey,werealizedthatnotonlywastheparticipatingsamplingclassundersizedbutalso,itdidnotoperatetoconcentrateonanyspecificfocusgroup.Forexample,wecouldhavegearedthequestioningtowardfreshmanstudents,andspenttimeintheresidencehallssurveyingthem.Withtheobtaineddata,wemighthavebeenabletomakealeveragingcaseforinstallingfilteredwatermachinesinresidencehalls,iftheresultsdeemedsignificant. JustasKalamazooCollegehastheOutsidetheBottlePledgeasapartoftheircampaign,wewouldliketoseethatsamepledgebroughttoWMU.Wecouldalsomakethepledgeavailableforstudentstosignoncampus,forexample,thedininghallswouldbeagreatlocationtoraiseawarenessandgainsupport. FurthersuggestionsincludeshowingthefilmTappedoncampus.Itwouldbeapartofourraisingawarenesscampaign.Wehavenotseenthefilmyet,butwehavereadandheardpositivereviewsonit.Thefilmexposesthedangersofthebottleddrinkingwaterindustry,ofwhichmanypeoplearenotawareof.Moreover,thisfilmisaboutthe“behindthesceneslookintotheunregulatedandunseenworldofanindustrythataimstoprivatizeandsellbacktheoneresourcethatoughtnevertobecomeacommodity‐water.”(Tapped‐ReviewfromFilm.com) WecanusethesuccessandfailuresexperiencedbyKalamazooCollegeasanadvantageandusethemasleveragepointsforourinitiativestrategies.Wewouldliketoimplementaneducationalawarenesscampaigntoprovideinsightfulandeffectivefactsrelatingtotheupstreamanddownstreamcostsassociatedwithbottledwatertostudents.
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Ourultimategoalforthefutureistocutdownonbottledwaterinthefollowingareas: 1)NewStudentOrientation 2)Commencement 3)StudentEvents 4)SportingEvents 5)VendingMachines 6)ResidenceHalls 7)CampusCafésIX.References
"AssociationfortheAdvancementofSustainabilityinHigherEducation|News,
Resources,Events,andAssessmentToolsfortheCampusSustainability
Community."AssociationfortheAdvancementofSustainabilityinHigher
Education.N.p.,n.d.Web.15Apr.2010.<http://www.aashe.org/>.
"BottleWater."Orange,BlackandGreen.N.p.,n.d.Web.21Apr.2010.
<reason.kzoo.edu/green/campusinitiatives/waterconservation/bottledwat
er/>.
"BottledWater|Food&WaterWatch."Food&WaterWatch.N.p.,n.d.Web.10Apr.
2010.<http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/>.
"CorporateAccountabilityInternational."ThinkOutsidetheBottle.N.p.,n.d.Web.20
Apr.2010.<www.thinkoutsidethebottle.org/>.
"EnvironmentalClub's"TakeBacktheTap"CampaignFeaturedinthePortland
Tribune."PSUEcoWiki:Yourlocalsustainabilityactionhub.N.p.,n.d.Web.9
Apr.2010.<http://ecowiki.pdx.edu/component/content/article/1‐latest‐
news/842‐environmental‐clubs‐qtake‐back‐the‐tapq‐campaign‐featured‐in‐
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the‐oregonian.html>.
"EnvironmentalDefenseFundExposes"SorryState"ofPlasticsRecycling‐
EnvironmentalDefenseFund."EnvironmentalDefenseFundFindingthe
WaysThatWork.N.p.,n.d.Web.18Apr.2010.
<http://www.edf.org/pressrelease.cfm?ContentID=1888>.
Franklin,Karmen,andMikaelaMadalinkski."ReducingBottledWaterUseinDining
ServicesattheUniversityofColoradoatBoulder."UniversityofColoradoat
Boulder.N.p.,n.d.Web.20Feb.2010.
<envs.colorado.edu/uploads/undergrad/Reducing_Bottled_Water_Use_in_Di
ning_Services_(2).pdf>.
"KleanKanteenCustomerService:FrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQs)."Klean
Kanteen:theOriginalBPAfree,StainlessSteelBottle.N.p.,n.d.Web.6Mar.
2010.<http://www.kleankanteen.com/faqs/faqs.html>.
Mckenzie‐Mohr,Doug,andWilliamSmith.FosteringSustainableBehavior:An
IntroductiontoCommunityBasedSocialMarketing(Educationfor
SustainabilitySeries).1ed.GabriolaIsland,BC:NewSocietyPublishers,
1999.Print.
"NRDC:PlasticWaterBottles."NRDC:NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncilTheEarth's
BestDefense.N.p.,n.d.Web.18Apr.2010.
<http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/0902.asp>.
"PacificInstitute‐BottledWater."PacificInstitute:ResearchforPeopleandthe
Planet.N.p.,n.d.Web.11Apr.2010.
<http://www.pacinst.org/topics/water_and_sustainability/bottled_water/i
17 | P a g e
ndex.htm>.
"ReplacingBottledWateronCampusFirstProjectofUniversitySustainability
Council|ArkansasNewswire|UniversityofArkansas."ArkansasNewswire
|UniversityofArkansas.N.p.,n.d.Web.9Apr.2010.
<http://newswire.uark.edu/article.aspx?id=11079>.
Royte,Elizabeth.Bottlemania:HowWaterWentonSaleandWhyWeBoughtIt.New
York:BloomsburyUSA,2008.Print.
"StandardsandRiskManagement|Safewater|Water|USEPA."USEnvironmental
ProtectionAgency.N.p.,n.d.Web.19Mar.2010.
<http://www.epa.gov/safewater/standard/index.html>.
"Tapped."Film.com.N.p.,n.d.Web.18Apr.2010.
<www.film.com/movies/tapped/30552770>.
"UniversitieswithBottledwaterpolicies:americanBottledwaterBansandUse
Reductioncampaigns."AssociationfortheAdvancementofSustainabilityin
HIgherEducation.N.p.,n.d.Web.22Apr.2010.
<www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/bottled_water_univer
sity_edition/addendum2.pdf>.
"WaterWarning‐IsBottledWaterBetter?."WaterWarning.N.p.,n.d.Web.22Apr.
2010.<http://www.waterwarning.com/bottlewaterfact.php>.
"WhyWater."ActiveWater.N.p.,n.d.Web.18Apr.2010.
<http://www.activewater.org/Our_Story.php>.Zentmeyer,Anya."StudentsonTapseekstoeliminateuseofbottledwater‐GrandValleyLanthorn."GrandValleyLanthorn.N.p.,14Feb.2010.Web.8Apr.2010.<http://www.lanthorn.com/1042‐Bottled‐Water‐Comittee>.
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X.AppendicesAppendixI:AuthorContacts
Name PhoneNumber Email
KimberlyShafer (269)449‐4463 kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.eduAlexandraSecrest (815)342‐1327 alexandra.m.secrest@wmich.edu
AppendixII:ContactListandE‐mailCommunicationLog
Name Title Email PhoneNumber
DonPenskarDirector,LogisticalServices donald.penskar@wmich.edu 269.387.8804
ChrisChaprara UndergradResearcher christopher.b.chaprara@wmich.edu 269.350.7711
BaibaStepeDirectorofAuxilaryEnterpriseOffice baiba.stepe@wmich.edu 269.387.3362
TomDuisterhof GordonWaterRep. tomd@gordonwater.com 616.262.5188
ThomasReichTestedwaterfromthefountains thomas.j.reich@wmich.edu n/a
MatthewHollander
PostgraduateSustainabilityResearcher m4hollan@wmich.edu 269.352.5093
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From Betsy Drummer <betsy.drummer@wmich.edu> Sent Thursday, April 8, 2010 8:14 am
To Kimberly Joy Shafer <kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu> Subject Re: A student survey
DearBetsy,
Iamabusinessstudent.Iamcurrentlyworkingonasustainbilityprojectproposalforaclass,inwhichtotoimplementfreefilteredwaterstationsthroughoutWMU'scampus.Iwouldgreatlyappreciateyourhelpindistributinthise‐mailbelowtoyourserverlistofstudents.Theurlcontainsashortsurveyforstudents,faculty,staff,etc.Iwouldsogreatlyappreciateyourhelpbysendingthefollowingmessageoutcontainingtheurl.Inadvance,thankyouforyourtimeandhelp.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wmuwater
Thankyou,
KimShafer
HiKim,WedonothavealistservinwhichIcandothis.Sorry!Whenwesendoutmassemails,it'sfromthedirectionofthefacultyandtheofficecoordinatorscangetaclasslistfromtheprofessor.Thebestpersontomaybecontactwouldbesomeoneinchargeofcommunicationforthecollegeofbusiness.ValorieJuergensisourcommunicationcoordinatorforthecollegeofbusiness.Sheworksoutofthedeansoffice,youmaytrytocontactheraboutalistservorsomeothermeansofgettingthisoutforyou.Hereisthewebsitetoourcommunicationsdepartment:http://www.wmich.edu/business/communications/Hopethishelps!BetsyBetsyDrummerOfficeofAdvisingandAdmissionsHaworthCollegeofBusinessWesternMichiganUniversityPhone:(269)387‐5089Fax:269‐387‐5710betsy.drummer@wmich.edu
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FromValorieJuergens<valorie.juergens@wmich.edu>SentThursday,April8,20109:54amTothom.myers@wmich.eduCcBetsyDrummer<betsy.drummer@wmich.edu>,kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu
SubjectFwd:Astudentsurvey.(HCOB)
DearValorie,
IamabusinessstudentandIamcurrentlyworkingonasustainbilityprojectproposalforaclass,inwhichtotoimplementfreefilteredwaterstationsthroughoutWMU'scampus.IcontactedBetsyDrummer,intheofficeofadvisingandadmissionofbusiness,shesuggestedtoe‐mailourcommunicationscoordinatorsinceshedidnothavealistserv.Iwouldgreatlyappreciateyourhelpindistributingthise‐mailbelowtoyourserverlistofstudents.Theurlcontainsashortsurveyforstudents,faculty,staff,etc.Iwouldsogreatlyappreciateyourhelpbysendingthefollowingmessageoutcontainingtheurl.Inadvance,thankyouforyourtimeandhelp.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wmuwater
Thankyou,
KimShafer
FromThomMyers<thom.myers@wmich.edu>SentThursday,April8,201011:15amToKimberlyJoyShafer<kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu>CcValorieJuergens<valorie.juergens@wmich.edu>,BetsyDrummer
<betsy.drummer@wmich.edu>,JimGilchrist<james.gilchrist@wmich.edu>SubjectRe:Astudentsurvey.(HCOB)
HiKim,AsurveyofstudentsrequiresapprovaloftheHumanSubjectsInstitutionalReviewBoardandapprovaloftheUniversity'schiefinformationofficer,Dr.JamesGilchrist.WedonotuseWMUe‐mailtodistributeinvitationstotakestudent‐conductedsurveys.WewillpublishinvitationsthroughatargetedannouncementinGoWMU,butonlyifthesurveyispartofdoctoraldissertation.Weestablishedtheselimits,becauseotherwise,wewouldallbeburiedinsurveyrequests.Ifyouwanttoappeal,you
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shouldwritetoDr.Gilchristatjames.gilchrist@wmich.edu.Itwouldbemoreproductive,however,tothinkofotherwaystogetthewordout.Forexample,youhave446Facebookfriends.YoucouldselecttheonesatWMUorHaworthCollegeofBusinessandsendthemaninvitationthroughFB.Regards,ThomThomMyersDirectorofElectronicCommunicationOfficeofUniversityRelationsWesternMichiganUniversityKalamazooMI49008‐5433office(269)387‐8710or387‐8400mobile(269)720‐4713thom.myers@wmich.edu
FromMatthewHollander<m4hollan@gmail.com>SentWednesday,April7,20107:27pmToKimberlyShaferJoy<kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu>CcGlasserHarold<harold.glasser@wmich.edu>
SubjectWatersamplesAttachments Wateraroundcampus.xlsx 38K
DearKim,HereisThomasReich'sdata.NowthatIlookatitheonlytestedfivesources.IfyourecommendthatmoresourcesaretestedatleastweknowthatDr.Koretsky'slabhasthecapabilities(ifnotthetime,money,ordesire)todothem.Hisemailisthomas.j.reich@wmich.eduandheisacoolguy.Cheers,Matt
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FromDonaldPenskar<donald.penskar@wmich.edu>SentMonday,April12,201012:45pmToKimberlyJoyShafer<kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu>
SubjectRe:NumbersonCoca‐Colapurchasing
Mr.Penskar,MynameisKim,I'mastudentworkingonasemesterlongprojectforoneofmyclasses.Inshort,theprojectisaproposaltohelpigniteasustainablechangeoncampus,asPres.Dunnhasrecentlyidentifiedtobecomeintegratedintotheinstitution.OneofthelastpiecesofdatathatwouldbedesirabletoincludewouldbeanyinformationonpurchasingordersforCoca‐Cola.Inparticular,Iamlookingatthetrendofbottledwater,soanapproximatenumberofhowmanyWMUpurchaseswouldbeextremelysupportive.Ifyouhaveanytimetomeetwithmethisweek,insteadofthroughe‐mail,itwouldbemosthelpfulandappreciated.Ithankyouforyourtimeandhelp.Sincerely,KimShafer
Kim,Thanksforyournote....IamnotsurethatIhavethespecificinformationyouneedonthis.....butpleasegivemeacallat269‐387‐8804andIthinkIcanpointyouintherightdirection.DonDonPenskarDirector,LogisticalServicesWesternMichiganUniversityKalamazoo,MI49008Phone‐269‐387‐8804Fax‐269‐387‐8824E‐Mail‐donald.penskar@wmich.edu
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FromDonaldPenskar<donald.penskar@wmich.edu>SentTuesday,April13,201012:42pmToKimberlyJoyShafer<kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu>
SubjectRe:NumbersonCoca‐Colapurchasing
Kim,IsthereanumberIcanreachyou?Orifyouprefer,pleaseletmeknowatimeyouwouldliketocallandIwillmakesureIamhere....youcanalsotrymycellat269‐217‐4238.Thanks,DonMr.Penskar,Thankyouforrespondingsoquickly.Itriedcallingyourofficenumberyesterday,butunfortunatelywasnotablereachyou.Isthereabettertimetotry?TomakeaclearerpictureofwhatIamsearchingfor,isanyrelatedinformationonCoca‐Colapurchasing.Thisproject,calledWaterFiltrationonCampus,isforDr.Glasser'sclass.Thankyou,KimShaferFromBaibaStepe<baiba.stepe@wmich.edu>SentFriday,April16,20101:34pmToKimberlyJoyShafer<kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu>
SubjectRe:Coca‐Colainquiry
HiKimandAlex,
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We,WMUVending,donotpurchaseCoca‐Colaproducts.Cokesuppliesthevendingmachinesandproducttofillthem.Theybeartheentirecost.ProductispurchasedbyDiningforthediningroomsandCafes.ThatcontactpersonisJudyGipper.CokeproductsuppliedtoAthleticsishandledbyathirdparty.Letmeknowifyouhaveanyadditionalquestions.Vendingmachinesareserviced2to3daysaweek.Tilllater,BaibaFromServiceMagicCustomerService
<customerservice@mp.servicemagic.com>SentSunday,April18,20108:03pmTokimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu
SubjectYourservicerequestforGordonWaterSystems,Inc.
DearKim,
ThankyouforyourrequesttobematchedwithGordonWaterSystems,Inc.foryourInstallorReplaceaWaterTreatment&PurificationSystemneed.Wearecurrentlyreviewingyourrequestandwouldliketoconfirmthatyouareinterestedinpursuingthisproject.
WearegladthatyouarepartoftheServiceMagiccommunityofhomeownersandprescreened,customer‐ratedhomeserviceprofessionals.Wehopeyou'llcomebacksoon.
ByusingServiceMagic'sservices,youagreetotheServiceMagicTerms&Conditions
CustomerRegards,ServiceTeamServiceMagic,Inc.TollFree:(866)888‐MAGIC(6244)CustomerService@ServiceMagic.com
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FromTomDuisterhof<tomd@gordonwater.com>SentMonday,April19,201010:06amTokimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu
SubjectDrinkingWater
Kim,Iamrespondingtoyourinterestinadrinkingwatersolution.Howcanwehelpyoutoday??Iwillcallyoushortly.BestRegards,TomDuisterhoftomd@gordonwater.comwww.gordonwater.com800.Water.68(800.928.3768),Mobile616.262.5188
OnApr19,2010,at11:39AM,KimberlyJoyShaferwrote:Tom,IamastudentatWesternMichiganUniversity.Ihavebeenworkingonasemesterlongprojectproposalinaclassforintroducingfilteredwaterstationsoncampus.Ouraimistoprovidefreefilteredwatertoallindividualsofthecampuscommunity,inanefforttohelpWMU'sjourneytowardsamoresustainableuniversitybyreducinggreenhousegaswastesassociatedwiththeproduction,distribution,anddisposalofbottledwater.OurschoolhasalongstandingcontractwithCoca‐Cola,sowehavesomebarriersthere.Butincludedinmyprojectproposal,aresomewaterequipmentoptionsthatarefeasibleforWMU.Icameacrossyourwebsite,andnoticedyouarelocal,whichisgreat!WMUislikelytogiveapilottestofthemachinethatischosen.Doyouhaveacommercialsizefiltration(machine,fountain,etc.)?ThankyouTomforyourinterestandhelp!
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Sincerely,KimFromTomDuisterhof<tomd@gordonwater.com>SentMonday,April19,20102:27pmToKimberlyJoyShafer<kimberly.j.shafer@wmich.edu>
SubjectRe:DrinkingWaterKim‐Thankyouforcontactingus.Yes,wetoohavebeenworkingwithpersonsatWMUtoproposedrinkingwatersolutions.Wehaveworkedwithtwootherstudents,thelatestbeingChristopherCaprara.TheyhavebeenpartofthePhysicalPlantandreportingtoAnandSankey.Areyouinvolvedatthephysicalplant?DoyouknoweitherChrisorAnand?Wedoofferaverynicesolutionthatcanprovideaverygood,3rdpartytested/verified,drinkingwatersolution.Thefiltrationtechnologycanbecoupledwithabottle‐lesscoolerordirectlytoafaucetfordispensing.Letmeknowwhatyourthoughtsorneedsaremovingforward.BestRegards,TomDuisterhof
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AppendixIII:SurveyQuestions&Results
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AppendixIV:Students’BottleEvaluation
Bottle#6061Durability:Inalmosteveryattempttoseethebottle’sabilitytoremainclosedwhendropped,thecapflewoff.Itleakedconstantlyandthethreadtoholdthecaponstrippedout.Itisobviouslynotmeantforhotdrinks.ThatI’msureof.Itdidn’tkeepcolddrinkscoldeither.Itdentedeasily.Ittastedlikedrinkingoutofanaluminumcan.Cheapandsimplewithalittlebitofaestheticstakenintoaccount.Outof5,I’dgiveita1.Design:It’stoobigandhasnofeatures.Itisbasicallywhatyouthinkitisatfirstglance,ametalcontainer.Nosurprises.Ididn’tgettotryandcookwithit,butI’msureyoucouldbecausethereisnologoanditis100%steel.Themouthwasridiculous.Ispilledalot(i.e.toolarge).Theodorwasminimalandthecapwasaterribledesign.FunctionalityofLid:Asmentionedpreviously,thelidwasjunk.Itstripped,ithadnofeatures(holetosiporanattachmentforcarrying),and,evenknowingItried,I’malmostcertaintheplasticwouldbreak.
Bottle#4161Durability:Iwasoverlyclumsywiththewaterbottles;droppingitondifferentsurfaceswhenfullandwhenempty.‐Easytodentwhenwaterisinthem‐Paintstaysontheoutsidewellevenwhenwashed.‐IdrinkmorewaternowthatIcarrythisaroundwithmeDesign:‐Thesizewasagoodsize,didn’tfeelitwastoolargeortoosmall.‐Feelslightwhichisagoodthing.‐Notastedifferences.WaterstilltastedfineevenafterIleftitintherefor1or2days.FunctionalityofLid:‐Theliddidnotleakorcrackevenaftermuchabuse.ItiskindofapaintounscrewiteverytimeandscrewitbackonbutIwouldtakethatoveraleakywatercanteen.‐Justageneralnoteforstainlesssteelwaterbottlesingeneral.Extralidsshouldbemadeeasilyavailableorshouldbeattachedtotheactualbottlebecausetheybecomeveryuselessifthelidislost.AndI’vealmostlostmineacoupletimes.Ifpeoplelosethelidtheywillmostlikelyjustbuyanotherwholewaterbottlewhichisterriblycounter‐productivetotheproblemthisprogramwouldliketosolve.‐IonlyputwaterinthecanteennowthatIthinkofit.Don’tknowifIwouldputmuchelseintherebutitwouldbenicetoknowthatnoflavorisleftfromthepastliquid.
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Bottle#6061–24ozwidemouth(hasGazelleSportsprintedonit)Durability:‐Ididn’tdropmybottlebecauseIknowyouguysaren’tgoingtousethissize,andIlikethiswaterbottletoomuchtodeformit(eveninthenameofscience!).ButI’vehadnoproblemswithit;itseemsquitedurableaslongasyou’renotdroppingitforscience.‐Thepictureonthebottleisneat.It’saGazelleSportslogo,anddoesn’tscratchoffatall.Design:‐Overalldesignisperfectforme.IdrinkalotofwatersoIlikethe24ozbottlesize.Itwouldfitgreatinmywaterbottleholderonmybike,butit’smetalsoitmakesalotofnoisewhenIride.‐Themouthisbiggerthanmylastmetalwaterbottle,andittooksomegettingusedto,butIreallylikeitnow.Youcanactuallyfiticecubesinit,andit’seasiertodrinkoutof.‐TherewasanodorinthebottlewhenIfirstgotit,butIwasheditoutwithsoapandthatwentaway,sonoproblem.Nofunnytastes,andImakesuretodryitouteverynightsoitdoesn’tgetmoldyorsomething.‐Idon’tseemtohaveasmuchofaproblemwiththebottlesweatingasIhadwithpreviouswaterbottles.Definitelyaplus.FunctionalityofLid:‐ThelidworksalotbetterthanIexpected.Thethreadpatternisshort–onlyoneortwoturnstotighten–butitholdsreallywellandhasn’tleakedatall.Thereisagasketbetweenthelidandbottlewhichhelpssealit.Thehandleontopiswellsizedandsturdy.
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AppendixV:CampusDrinkingFountainEvaluationsLocation Temperature Taste Cleanliness Working
conditionsRood Cool Metal Good Inconsistentbuttons
Rood Cool Metal Good
Watersplatters,buttondifficulttopush
Rood Warm Metal Good/Old Flowofwatergood
Rood Cool Metal BrownSpotting
Waterflowpoor,notenoughtofillwaterbottle.Buttondifficulttopush
Rood Cool Metal StainlessSteeltarnished Flowispoor
Rood Cool Metal Good Flowispoor
Rood Cool Metal Good
Flowispoor,hardtomaintainwaterpressure
Rood Warm Metal GoodFlowisadequatetofillbottle
LeeHonorsCollege Cool Metal
Good.Plasticspoutskeepscorodedresiduetoaminimum Good
Chemistry Cool Metal SpoutdirtyFlowisadequatetofillbottle
Chemistry Cool Metal Spoutdirty.DraindirtyFlowisadequatetofillbottle
Chemistry Cool Metal GoodFlowistoofarandspillsontothefloor
Chemistry Cool Metal GoodFlowistoofarandspillsontothefloor
Chemistry Cool Metal GoodFlowistoofarandspillsontothefloor
Chemistry Cool Metal GoodFlowistoofarandspillsontothefloor
Knaus Cool Metal Dirty/Old.Splatterswatereverywhere.
Knaus Warm Metal Dirty/Old Flowispoor/short
Knaus Cool Metal Good/Old FlowisadequateDunbar Cool Metal Good Flowisadequate
Dunbar Cool Metal Good Flowisadequate
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Dunbar Cool Metal GoodSplatterwaterandfacegetswet
Dunbar Cool Metal Spoutdirty.Draindirty Flowispoor
Dunbar Cool Metal GoodFlowispoorandinconsistent
Dunbar Cool Metal Spoutdirty GoodDunbar Cool Metal Good Good
Dunbar Cool Metal GoodSplatterswatereverywhere.
Dunbar Cool Metal Good
Splatterswatereverywhere.Pushbuttonisdifficult
Dunbar Cool Metal GoodSplatterswatereverywhere.
AppendixVI:ThomasReich’sTestingofWaterFountains
Building Flouride (ppm)
Chloride (ppm)
Nitrate (ppm)
Phosphate (ppm)
Sulfate (ppm)
Cd (ppb)
Fe (ppb)
Ni (ppb)
Pb (ppb)
Chem 0.9774 52.08 0 0 34 3.278 208 1.863 32.32 Hadley Rm 316 0.8884 78.995 0 0.735 37.17 3.337 66.26 6.277 41.82 Fountain in Haenicki 0.9659 68.82 0 0 36.53 3.346 138.7 4.161 26.71
Rood Hall 0.9328 77.9 0 0.6961 37.63 3.119 225.3 1.98 31.8
Sangran 0.941 80.71 0 0 37.14 3.274 163 1 31.31
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AppendixVII:CostComparisonofFiltrationMachinesElkayEZH2O:ProductFeatures:
• attachestomost115V/60HzEZpushbaractivatedfountains• sanitary,no‐touch,sensoractivationwithautomatic30secondshutofftimer.• 3,000gallonfilter• silverionanti‐microbialprotection• quickfill• minimalsplash• realdrainsystemeliminatesstandingwater• visualinterfacedisplayincludes:1)Filtermonitorindicatingwhenreplacementis
necessary.2)Greentickercountingthequantityof16oz.bottlessavedfromthelandfillfornon‐refrigeratedunitsand12oz.bottlesforrefrigeratedunits.
• estimatedsinglefilterreplacement:$103EstimatedCost:$1,631.19Canney’sAquabar:GeneralSpecificationsw/EverpureFiltration:
• freestandingunit• 3temperatures• 5yearlimitedwarranty• 3/8”waterline• 120VACconnectionforchiller• filterchangedevery1,000gallon• 6monthspreventativemaintenanceschedule• 80$perfilter• Taste,odorandchlorinereduction• 99.2%reductionofparticles0.5andlarger
CostEquipment $788Delivery/Setup $125Shipping $120Filters/Labor $810Total $1,843
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Gordon’sOasis:Availablewithdrinkingfountainandbottlefiller,orstandalonebottlefiller
• Recessedwallmountedunit• Stainlesssteel• Optionalultravioletlight• Optionalgreenfilter• 8or12gallon/hourcapacity• Highinstallationcost• Replacefilterevery1,000gallons($120‐$140/filter)CostBottlefiller $2,000‐$2,800Bottlefiller&fountain $4,000‐$4,400
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