“Having the new hydration station has saved us money, multiple trips to the grocery store each week to buy bottled water, and it has created access to clean drinking water for all of our students and staff,” said Principal Benito Matias of Ascension Catholic School in North Minneapolis. Their hydration station was provided by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. Hydration stations protect against lead exposure and offer students and staff a free and healthy alternative to sugary beverages. During the pandemic, the water fountain feature is turned off. Students and staff can still quickly fill their reusable water bottles to take with them, which reduces plastic waste. It’s a win-win for health and the environment! health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/com/hydstatgrntproginfo.pdf #DrinkingWaterMN #OralHealthMN