Chicago children face a higher chance of being diabetic, having heart disease, or being clinically labeled as obese due to weight gain (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, n.d.; Children’s Health, n.d.). A significant contributor is sugar intake, especially in beverages such as sodas and juices, commonly given to younger populations. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) data indicates that two-thirds of youth in the U.S. consume one or more sugary drinks daily, with the highest consumption reported among adolescents (Rosinger et al., 2018). Research evidence has even gone further to link inadequate hydration to worse cognitive performance and increased headaches (Patel et al., 2016).  

I am calling on Dr. Macquline King, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, to require the installation of free, filtered water bottle filling stations in every CPS elementary school, with priority given to buildings constructed before 1995. Older school structures have limited options for drinking water due to their outdated infrastructure. Furthermore, schools should not assume that all children have access to drinking water at home. Providing clean water access at a place where a young population spends roughly eight hours a day is essential to healthy living. In my plea, I ask for a portion of the $555.9 million of investments given to Chicago Public School in the FY2026 plan to be use towards the installation of these water stations (Chicago Public Schools [CPS], 2026). The plan would cover costs as this would be considered an interior improvement. Students should not have to drink from unfiltered taps that may release toxic chemicals into their bodies. Not only has clean drinking water been shown to reduce sugary drink consumption, but it also improves hydration, enabling students to focus on school-related content.

If CPS invests in hydration infrastructure, we can promote healthier habits early, reduce obesity risk, and support students’ academic performance. It is the job of educators, health leaders, and parents to protect young populations. Clean water is not a luxury; it is a necessity for human life. If you could take the step to protect your child’s health, wouldn’t you want to try? Chicago’s children deserve school environments that make the healthy choice the easy choice.

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