GSGA and Facilities Operations collaborate on water bottle filling stations

Two new water bottle filling stations have been installed on Augusta University’s Health Sciences Campus, thanks to a collaboration between the Graduate Student Government Association and the Facilities Operations Department.

One filling station was installed in the Health Sciences Building and the other in J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons. The stations easily accommodate, and rapidly fill, bottles and thermoses and are located next to drinking fountains.

Graduate Student Government Association Comptroller Nicole Lopez said the association wanted to provide hydration options on campus especially in buildings that may not have kitchenettes available to students. So, SGA contacted Facilities Operations Director James Grigg and asked what could be done.

“The plumbing shop did some research to find the right make model. We provided a quote for the units to the SGA, the SGA/Student Affairs purchased the units and the Facilities plumbing shop installed them,” said Grigg.

Lopez said she was aware of only one other water bottle filling station on campus prior to the completion of this project.

“We all have water bottles and want to fill them up in between classes. Now we have more options on where to do it. I love that it was accomplished within a short amount of time, within two weeks,” she said. “It was very rewarding working as a team, actually seeing something come together like this.”

Lopez pointed out that the filling stations help cut down on the dependency on plastic water bottles, which often end up in landfills.

“The SGA is always pushing for a more green, healthier campus,” Lopez said.

“These stations provide sustainability by reducing the use of plastic bottles and by providing a readily accessible location for students, faculty, staff and visitors to fill up their water bottles may make them drink more water and be healthier,” said Grigg.