Thirst Station to fill water bottles on campus
A brand-new futuristic-looking vending machine could make access to purified water more convenient and eco-friendly on campus. Just remember to bring your own water bottle.
The environmentally “green” machine, which was installed Oct. 22 in the University of Iowa Pappajohn Business Building, uses a post-mix system, just like cappuccino machines in gas stations, to dispense cold, purified water directly into people’s personal drinking containers. Officials said the machine will conserve water and aid the UI’s sustainability efforts.
Gretchen Swan’s idea for the Thirst Station came out of her frustration with continually having to refill water bottles at home to have purified water.
Swan enrolled in the FastTrac entrepreneurial class at the UI to try to set up a business plan for her idea.
“It’s been a long process because I’m new to owning my own business,” she said.
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While in the FastTrac class, she worked with UI marketing lecturer David Collins. Collins said he is hesitant to take any credit for the project, saying he was only there to help Swan make the connections she needed and research possible venues for the idea such as hospitals and health clubs.
But they couldn’t just put the machine in the building right away. First they had to amend a contract granting exclusive rights to sell beverages on the UI campus to Coca-Cola.
“Compared to how quickly things usually happen on a campus, this happened lightning fast,” said Charles Whiteman, an associate dean of the Tippie College of Business.
UI senior Heidi Potthoff said she thinks the machine is a good idea but is reluctant to use the Thirst Station herself.
“I don’t think it’s practical to expect students to pay for water when it’s free,” she said.
Standing in Pat’s Diner, near the vending machine, UI freshman Jennifer Fauteck said she hadn’t heard about it yet but plans to begin using it.
“I don’t want to buy a water bottle every time I want to drink water, and I’m not too fond of water fountains,” she said.
UI senior Shannon Green, the director of marketing for American Marketing Association, worked with 15-20 other UI students to help Swan market the project.
During the first week of being open, there will be a table next to the Thirst Station at which students can ask any questions about the new vending machine.
Also for the first week, the Thirst Station will be free of charge. After that, fill-ups will range from $.70 to $1, depending on the size.
Though students can’t use their U-bills at the machine, Green said, they are trying to get coupons available at Pat’s Diner.
The $5,000 European water dispenser was hooked up to an existing water line at no cost for the university. In fact, the energy-efficient cooling system will save significant money energy, Collins said. The machine will cost about $30 a year to operate because it is flash-chilled, which takes substantially less energy than normal vending machines.
It uses low-energy lighting and is made mostly of recycled materials, said UI Office of Sustainability Director Liz Christiansen.
“The Tippie college has been very supportive of green efforts, and this is just another great step in that direction,” she said.
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