Prabjhot Gill fills up a stainless steel water bottle at one of the new filtered water stations at SOSS. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
The power of the student body at Southern Okanagan Secondary School has resulted in better tasting H20 and fewer plastic water bottles in Oliver.
Last month the students in Dan Fuller’s Environmental Studies class did some research on acquiring filtered water in the school because, quite frankly, the fountain water tasted terrible. They also wanted to reduce the number of plastic water bottles being purchased and possibly discarded by students.
After completing their research, the students presented their findings to school administrators who approved the installation of two filtered water stations that pupils could use to fill up their stainless steel bottles.
“Everyone thinks it’s cool,” said Grade 10 student Prabhjot Gill. “I like that it’s filtered and we are saving a lot of plastic bottles from impacting the environment.”
Students can either drink filtered water straight from the fountain or fill up their steel water bottles via a sensor. The Hyrdoboost station also indicates how many plastic water bottles are being reduced simply by using the dispensor. As of today (January 14), there has been a reduction of more than 83 plastic bottles.
“We’re trying to get the cafeteria to stop selling them,” Gill said.
The student admitted that most teenagers don’t really care about having an impact on the environment, but Fuller has shown them how their actions have a significant effect and what they can do to prevent the negative fallout.
“For us to be passionate about something, we need to make a stand,” Gill said, noting they are making a real difference in the school and the community.
