Improving Water Access at CCNY
Introduction:
Every day New York City and surrounding counties supply its nine million residents with one million and three hundred thousand gallons of safe drinking water. This safe drinking water is of course being brought to our school, so why is it that when you turn on a water fountain faucet you have doubts? It’s apparent that there is a problem with access to clean quality water; which is not provided on campus. The main culprit of this issue is simply the age of the university and with it, the age of the utilities and pipes. Water from upstate reservoirs go through aqueducts to get to New York City where chlorine is added and water goes through UV light which kills the bacteria in the water. To improve health of residents, fluoride is also added which prevents tooth decay (DEP, 2019). From there, this water goes through our pipes which is where problems begin to occur (NYC.gov, 2013). Before 1961 lead service lines were the standard and the use of lead soldering, in plumbing, was only banned in 1987, so numerous buildings in New York City have an abundance either lead pipes or a composition of it (DEP, 2019). The water that flows through these pipes then has lead in it which is not safe for drinking. Another big issue is water hardness where there is too high a concentration of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. (DEP, 2019) To amend this problem, we propose filtered hydration stations, that can filter the toxic substances like lead, chlorine, and the high concentration of minerals from drinking water, making it safer to drink. Such systems would be far cheaper than changing pipes and ensure a sense of security to students and faculty. The demand for such systems is clear, as shown in Figure 1 of students in campus there is a 97.2% want for these systems. These new systems will make water more accessible for students while also ensuring their safety.
Figure 1: A survey taken to show how many students want filtered hydration stations?
Action Plan:
Proposed Steps
To gain approval from The City College of New York, the following steps should be performed, to integrate filter hydration system in the buildings.
Step 1: Prove the need of more stations
There are many benefits into switching to water bottle filling stations around campus. Switching to water bottle filling stations will:
- Promote recycling by having students invest in refillable and recyclable bottles. This is beneficial to the earth and CCNY students won’t have to throw away plastic bottles.
- Be more hygienic, through our own experience at CCNY, the stations are hands-free as the sensors detect the bottle and distributes water without the distribution of bacteria.
- Uphold a healthy lifestyle. As stated in Reamy’s article, staying hydrated is crucial to the human body. Many students travel around campus to get to class, and staying hydrated can replenish the body. Reamy also says that by staying hydrated, students can perform better during an exam (Reamy, 2017).
Step 2: Address the usage of CCNY’s current facilities
Many people don’t even use the water fountains at The City College of New York because of the sanitary aspect of the fountains, as shown in Figure 2 below:
Figure 2: Dirty water fountain located in the NAC building of CCNY.
In addition, through a recent survey as shown in Figure 3 below, we found that 44.4% of students bring their water from home, 27.8% get their water from filter hydration system on campus, 25% purchase their water, and only 2.8% get their water from water fountains at CCNY.
Figure 3: A survey taken to show where the students on campus get their water from.
As a result from the survey, we can see students would rather bring water from home, use water stations, and purchase water before they even think about using unfiltered water fountains. We can also notice that students already use recycled bottles as they bring water from home.
By implementing more water bottle filling stations students can save money, help recycle, and have better tasting water.
Step 3. Finding affordable and beneficial Hydration Stations for CCNY
When it came to finding the appropriate system for the school we did not want to take any shortcuts. Anything that your body intakes should be nothing but the best and be in the best interest for your health. The Brita hydration system seemed to make the most sense. The cost doesn’t break the bank and the same it takes out contaminants like lead and chlorine, and makes for better taste. Overall it provides students with cleaner, chilled, and better tasting water. (Brita)
Step 4. Possible locations for new hydration stations
Figure 4: A survey taken across a couple students from CCNY
Through our second survey as shown in Figure 3 above, we considered 4 of the main locations on campus where there is a high concentration of students. With these results we concluded that about 5 additional filtering water bottle stations are needed. During club hours a high concentration of students pass by the following locations: North Academic Center Rotunda, Shepard Hall, Marshak, and the Grove School of Engineering. There are currently two water bottle filling stations located on the first floor in the North Academic Center but installing two more in the NAC Rotunda would be beneficial because the NAC Rotunda brings together the north and south wings of the building, the cafeteria and Cohen Library in the NAC. The other three would be installed in Shephard Hall, Marshak, and Grove School of Engineering.
Step 5. File with DOB and Landmarks
Inspect area where filtered hydration stations will be installed. Create floor plan and submit to Landmarks Commission Preservation(LPC). Once plans have been approved by LPC, submit floor plans to Department of Buildings for approval to install filtered hydration stations.
Cost/Benefits:
Let’s face the facts. Anything great in life isn’t free. When it comes the all inclusive price of these filtered water hydration systems, the price varies. There are various models, many different options of installation, and routine maintenance. All these variables need to be taken into consideration.
Our budget for this project is $17,000. The units (5 total) are $1,690 a piece. We will be ordering 2 chillers as well to install in the highest traffic areas, which are $932 a piece. These chillers can be tied in with pre-existing units as well. Along with this, it’s a good idea to order replacement filters for future maintenance after the original filters need replacing. A total of 10 filters, $100 a piece, should be sufficient to get started, as the filters get replaced 1-2 times a year depending on usage (Brita). (See Appendix, Figure 5, for cost calculations) For installation costs, after speaking with a licensed master plumber and licensed master electrician, the cost of installation per unit is from $850 to $1,200. The process of installation from unit to unit can vary slightly because of pre-existing features, that vary from building to building.
The price may be a big pill to swallow, but take a look at the all the benefits. With people using fewer disposable cups, and more refillable water bottles (which can be raffled off or handed out for free at certain occasions), it does its part in helping the environment. Less waste created, and less harmful waste being put into the environment. No more worrying about getting dirty, weird tasting, warm water from the gross water fountains. Also, it’ll encourage more water drinking. When you’re thirsty you want a cool, refreshing drink. Why pay for a carbonated beverage or a bottle of water, when you can fill and refill your water bottle for free? Not to mention the water will be clean, fresh, and chilled. Water is the most healthy way to hydrate your body, so why say no? People at CCNY are on the move all day, and not to mention in the summer how hot it can get. It is a MUST to stay hydrated, it’s extremely health beneficial. You can’t put a price on your health.
It should be emphasized that Brita offers opportunities for schools and universities to save more money, help fundraise money to reduce the cost of the units, and maybe even earn one for free! (Brita). Who don’t like free things?!
Experience:
Musa Abedrabbo
Musa is a first year civil engineering student at the City College of New York. He is expected to graduate in 2022 with bachelors in civil engineering, with a concentration in structures. Musa comes from the bronx and is very much involved in his community. During his high school education he worked as an intern for Van Cortlandt park where he worked with a team to revitalize a section of the land. He also volunteered at a local elementary school, assisting class rooms by managing students papers and maintaining organization. From these experiences in his community Musa has become a dependable, team oriented, and hard working individual who seeks to get the most out of his college education. Musa wants to further help communities by using and developing his skills in the field of civil engineering.
Sing Yeu (Tim) Wei
Tim is a second degree transfer student as a Civil Engineer at the City College of New York. He will be a graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor in Engineering degree with a concentration in structural engineering.
Over the past three years, Tim has gained valuable experience. Currently he is working as a special inspection intern at PTS Inspections, inspecting construction work. In 2017, he started as a mechanical engineering intern working at a startup company and in 2018 he has been promoted to full time as a mechanical testing engineer.
Tim likes to travel and he love his current job where he gets to travel to many worksites and communicate with general contractors and project managers. He also have an interest in fixing cars and gain many technical skills.
The PE license is one of Tim’s goal to get in his engineering career and become a professional engineer designer in the future. Eventually developing enough skills and knowledge to lead a team of engineers and close the gap between latinos and engineering.
Ricardo Peralta
Ricardo Peralta is a first year mechanical engineering student at the City College of New York. He is expected to graduate in 2022 with a bachelors in mechanical engineering.
Although he is just starting his college career, his past and present work experiences set him apart from other college freshman. He has worked at: Highbridge Park, Operation Exodus (a summer camp for the youth), acquired an internship with Bank of America the summer right before going to college, and is now currently working under the dean of engineering at the Grove School of Engineering.
In addition, Ricardo is a member of the Latin American Engineering Student Association at The City College of New York where the club strives to promote cultural awareness for aspiring latino engineers.
Ricardo is looking to expand his skill set and get the most from college in order to transition into the professional world of engineering and close the gap between engineering and latinos.
Nicholas Webb
Nicholas Webb is a first year mechanical engineering student at The City College of New York, striving for a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and is expected to graduate in 2022.
Nick is currently a part of ASME and looks to get more involved with the organization and many others, as well as join engineering related clubs in the future, in order to make him a more well-rounded engineer.
When it comes to work experience, he looks to focus his future jobs around mechanical engineering. However, he has done some research for a mechanical engineering professor, researching, analyzing, and using a number of different engineering programs (along the lines of Solidworks) for future projects. Other work experience includes private tutoring and working at a private dental office as a filing clerk.
He is very detail oriented when it comes to working on any type of project. He has an interest in a variety of things like sports and especially cars, which allows him to have the ability to work with both his hands and mind, and think critically.
Nick looks forward to entering the engineering profession and yearns to make the best out of his future engineering degree in mechanical engineering.
Conclusion:
Access to clean water is very important for students to stay hydrated as well as feel comfortable on campus. The need for more filtered hydration stations is shown through surveys of students and the quality of current water fountains at the university. Placing them in areas with a high concentration of students like the NAC and Shepard Hall will also make sure they are being used frequently. The Brita hydration stations are of excellent quality and affordable making them the best choice for our campus. More and more schools are using these utilities, so why shouldn’t we?
References:
Brita. (n.d.). Recessed Mounted Bottle Filler – Model 2000S. Retrieved March 20, 2019, from
New York City Department of Environmental Protection. (2019). New York City’s Wastewater
Treatment System.[PDF File] Retrieved March 28, 2019, from http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wwsystem.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3p7C5cPLzRUWOkH6zzZZ5CxUsheVI2gOzGs0Z-rznw356j0vcOUJeMcCM
New York City Department of Environmental Protection. (2019). Lead in Household Plumbing
Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved March 28, 2019, from
https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/lead_faq.shtml
New York City Government(2013). Retrieved March 28, 2019, from
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwater/html/drinking/reservoir.shtml
New York Department of Environmental Protection. (2019). Water Hardness. Retrieved March
28, 2019, from https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/water-hardness.shtml
Reamy, L. (2017, November 1). The College Student’s Guide to Hydration. Retrieved March 27,
2019, from https://www.freshu.io/lauren-reamy/the-college-students-guide-to-hydration
Appendix:
| Item | Price Per Item | # of Items | Total Price |
| Hydration Station | $1690 | 5 | $8,450 |
| Chillers | $932 | 2 | $1,864 |
| Replacement Filters | $100 | 10 | $100 |
| Installation (For Everything) | $5,500 | ||
| Total | $15,814 |
Figure 5
