TGIF Final Report

TGIF Final Report May 2011

Project Name: I Heart Tap Water

Organization/ Department Report by: Mariah Gonzalez, 'I Heart Tap Water' Intern, University Health Services Cathy Kodama, Health Promotion Director, University Health Services

Additional Project Leaders Trish Ratto, Manager, Health*Matters, University Health Services Kim LaPean, Communications Manager, University Health Services

Sponsoring Department: University Health Services Partnering organizations, departments, or individuals: UC Berkeley’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Work Group comprised of management and student representatives from University Health Services, Cal Dining, ASUC Auxiliary, Recreational Sports Facility (RSF), Environment, Health & Safety, the ASUC Sustainability Coalition, and faculty from the School of Public Health, Physical Education Department, UCB Center for Weight and Health, and Department of Integrative Biology.

Project summary a) Goals of the project: The goal of this project is to reduce the purchase and disposal of plastic drinking water bottles by establishing a campus community social norm for drinking tap water. Bottled drinks contribute to the campus’ waste stream and require petroleum-based products for production and transport. The I Heart Tap Water (IHTW) campaign promotes tap water by building awareness with a public information campaign, supporting the accessibility to tap water on campus, and distributing reusable bottles. In Fall 2010, we launched a campaign emphasizing drinkability and accessibility of tap water on campus, with the following strategies:

Objective A: Increase utilization of tap water on campus, through promoting campus locations with quality tap water, via outreach education and the development/marketing of a campus tap water locator via a Google map.

Objective B: Encourage individual commitment to drinking tap water through the current web site, with the online pledge and raffle drawings for IHTW bottles; promote the IHTW Facebook group and other online opportunities. Increase the visibility of tap water quality and availability through educational materials and outreach events.

Objective C: Continue to identify opportunities for institutional changes, such as encouraging campus and student event planners to switch from bottled beverages to serving tap water in pitchers; and working with student offices and campus departments to eliminate water coolers in campus buildings.

This collaborative campaign promotes tap water by building awareness with a public information campaign, improving accessibility to tap water via campus fountains and new refill water stations, reaching out to student sustainability groups, and distributing free, high quality, reusable bottles with a consistent health and sustainability logo. This project’s goals are to improve accessibility to tap water by assessing campus fountains and installing new water refill stations in various locations around campus, promote visibility of tap water sources, promote use of reusable aluminum bottles, reduce the purchase and waste generation of plastic bottles, and encourage healthier drinking habits.

1 b) Accomplishments, successes: This year, the campaign focused an increasing partnership and connection with campus student groups. This included the following activities: 1) Campus event tabling including Play Green, Mind-Body Awareness Week, Earth Week. I Run 4 Cal, UNICEF World Water Day, Sustainability Fair. 2) Co-sponsoring a screening of the documentary 'Tapped' with the ASUC Sustainability Team 3) Developing and promoting the I Heart Tapwater website (uhs.berkeley.edu/tapwater) with information on the benefits of tap water, prizes, and a pledge to drink more tap water. As of March, there were 4,802 hits to the I Heart Tap Water webpage and 813 students, faculty and staff have taken the pledge. Of those, 80% use a refillable water bottle and quench thirst from sources all over campus from water fountains to kitchens in departments. 4) “I Heart Tap Water at Cal” Google Map—map of refill stations, favorite drinking fountains (as determined with data from the pledge), with over 4,200 hits at the end of April. 5) Campus units purchased approximately 1,000 reusable stainless steel bottles for distribution. 6) Campus newsletter—with information on upcoming events, links to Facebook page and map, updating on status of the campaign. 7) Articles on success stories within departments—California Hall, PPCS. 8) Facebook page, which disseminated over 60 informational posts. https://www.facebook.com/#!/tapwatercal 9) Promotional posters distributed in campus departments and student living centers. 10) Postcards, buttons, and stickers distributed widely on campus. 11) Email blurbs to academic email lists and club email lists. 12) Facebook Photo Project highlighting different perspectives on water issues from various campus clubs. 13) Distribution of buttons, stickers and postcards for various club events. c) Challenges / obstacles: The key challenge we experienced was with our learning curve about the development and promotion of social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter. While we are satisfied with our initial development and content of the Facebook page, we are still identifying effective mechanisms for promoting the page. In addition we are identifying the most effective ways of using Twitter, the UHS e-newsletter, and other media to promote the social norm of drinking tap water. d) Feedback to TGIF – Is there anything that TGIF could have done to advise or help your project? TGIF has been very proactive and supportive of our initiatives, and reporting/administrative mechanisms have been user- friendly and efficient. Thank you!

Sustainability Impact

This project addresses campus sustainability priorities through:  Reduction in the waste generated on campus, improving the campus’ environmental impact.  Reduction in production and transport costs of plastic beverage containers. This project ties into the following campus initiatives:  The UCB Nutrition and Physical Activity Work Group goal for improving access to tap water for refilling reusable water containers and instituting tap water as the beverage of choice for campus meetings.  The proposed Capital Projects development of Design and Implementation Guidelines for the Installation of Hydration Stations in Existing Campus Buildings.

2  2020 Long Range Development Plan, which includes a policy for “minimizing the use of nonrenewable energy and material resources.”

Our goal of the I Heart Tap Water campaign was to reduce bottled water sales, available in both vending and retail, by 25%. The total decrease in sales since the 2005-06 academic year equaled 48%, beginning with a total of 29,280 cases of bottled water sold in the 2005-06 year. In 2008-09, sales equaled 21,979. The academic year 2009-10 saw a total decrease sales decrease of 18%, translating to 97,032 single use bottles. The decline is sales is primarily in retail operations, while vending sales are relatively steady. We are still awaiting final numbers for the 2010-11 year; we expect to see further reductions as we improve access to reliable sources of tap water on campus. Additionally, we have indication that improved confidence in taps and drinking fountains, and an increased investment in hydration stations in campus buildings, has begun to reduce the approximately $167,746 spent by the University on water cooler services annually. With continued commitment to this project from all sponsoring departments, we would expect to see ongoing outcomes and savings in these arenas.

Visibility / Outreach See attached.

Conclusions and next steps We plan to continue the I Heart Tap Water campaign, using existing resources, into the next academic year. This will include the following:  Web site with the online pledge and regular raffle drawings for IHTW water bottles.  Ongoing upkeep and promotion of “I Heart Water Sources at Cal” Google Map  Facebook page  Posters/postcard/button distribution, upon request and to select groups, such as Health Workers, sTEAM and residence hall sustainability coordinators, Building Coordinators, Department Wellness Coordinators.  Outreach events, including Earth Week 2012; sTEAM events, Play Green 2012  Using relationships with student sustainability groups to continue water-focused events on campus.  Cross marketing with campus partners: Cal Dining – continuation of IHTW Kleen Kanteen sales + spring break water bottle contest; RSF – promotion of hydration stations, IHTW campaign.

Budget Summary (Ledgers pending; current ledgers not available at the time the report was filed.)

Item Cost per Item Quantity Publicity and Communication --Materials development and production $1,500 --Outreach materials, website development, advertising Personnel and Wages --Student intern to assist with outreach education and 10 hrs/week x 25 $3,000 publicity for students, staff, and faculty to switch to tap weeks x $12/hr water; develop campus tap water locator. TOTAL $ 4,500

3 Appendix: Outreach Materials and Photos (also sent as separate files)

A. I Heart Tap Water Campus Locator Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms? ie=UTF8&hl=en&vps=1&jsv=314b&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=205805806280690383974.00049be12e44b90b5f780

B. Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/tapwatercal#!/tapwatercal

4 C. I Heart Tap Water Pledge Web page http://uhs.berkeley.edu/tapwater/

D. SF Gate Article on the Student Food Co-op, January 31, 2011 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F01%2F31%2FBAFE1HDOPN.DTL

5 E. Daily Cal Article on Hydration Stations, February 17, 2011 http://blog.dailycal.org/news/2011/02/17/new-hydration-filters-installed-in-dwinelle-hall/#more-4020

F. Berkeleyside Article on Bottled Water Ban, mentions I Heart Tap Water campaign, March 31, 2011 (also covered in The Berkeleyan) http://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/03/31/weaning-off-the-bottle-uc-berkeley-tests-the-waters/