Hillsborough Helps Environment With Hydration Stations

BRANDON, FL – Fans of reusable water bottles rejoice: More hydration stations are coming to a Hillsborough County facility near you.

Hillsborough County is in the middle of a project to bring hydration stations to all of the Tampa-Hillsborough County libraries, a majority of Parks & Recreation facilities as well as other county facilities.

The Elkay hydration stations Hillsborough County is installing look and work like traditional water fountains. The difference is an addition on top of the unit that allows a water bottle to be filled in an upright position.

“No more tilting your bottle at all types of angles to just partially fill it,” said Jeff Greenwell, the Hillsborough County Environmental Services manager.

The project is being funded from Public Utilities’ Water Conservation program as part of an ongoing, educational outreach effort. Each station averages about $1,200 for equipment and installation, Greenwell said.

The stations are meant to promote the health benefits hydration, to encourage the use of refillable water bottles than store-bought plastic ones and to boost confidence in the public water system.

Greenwell got the idea of installing hydration stations from his previous employer, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where the stations were used.

“They were a big hit with employees,” Greenwell said. “Since they promote water conservation, as well as water reduction, the concept was developed.”

The first hydration station was installed on April 12, 2016, at the Public Utilities Department building in Brandon. Then, stations were installed in a few more utilities stations as part of a pilot program.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive and the department began looking for ideal locations with high usage,” Greenwell said.

More than 60 of the stations have been installed since, and dozens more will replace traditional water fountains and libraries, recreation centers, senior centers and Head Start centers. Hydration stations also will be installed at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover and the Hillsborough County Extension in Seffner.

For a map of hydration station locations around Hillsborough County, visit http://hcflgov.net/en/residents/recreation-and-culture/recreation/water-bottle-filling-stations.

Caption: Children in the summer program at Morgan Woods Recreation Center in Town ’N Country learn how to use the newly installed hydration station.

Images via Hillsborough County Government website