YESAction Initiatives
YESWater
YESWater
Reducing reliance on single-use plastic water bottles in schools.
The Problem We're Solving
Many students at school still buy single-use plastic bottles of water from vending machines instead of drinking from the tap or fountain water available on campus. In some cases, students avoid school water because the fountains look unappealing or because no one has ever told them whether the water is safe. The result is hundreds of plastic bottles consumed per student per year — and a missed opportunity for schools to set a sustainable default.
Foundation
Every chapter participating in YESWater should:
Test the water quality at their school using water test kits (fundraising to purchase kits as needed).
Publish the results visibly — through posters, school announcements, or campaigns — so students know the water is safe to drink and feel confident choosing the tap over a bottled alternative.
This foundation alone builds environmental literacy at scale. Most people don't need to be convinced sustainability matters — they need to be shown exactly what to do about it.
Going Further
Chapters that want to extend their impact can:
Lobby and fundraise to get their school to install modern bottle-refill fountains — the kind where water comes down from a spout instead of up, and where a built-in counter shows how many plastic bottles have been saved.
Build their own creative extensions — awareness campaigns, refillable bottle giveaways, pledge drives, partnerships with school administration. If your chapter does something new, share it with us so other chapters can learn from your work.
Awareness alone rarely changes behavior — repetition and community accountability do. Pairing consistent online content with real-world touchpoints turns passive followers into people who've actually changed a habit, not just read about one.
How We Support You
YESAction is here to help. Chapters working on YESWater can reach out to us for:
Guidance on which water test kits to use and how to interpret results
Templates and design support for posters, awareness campaigns, and infographics
Advice on how to approach school administration about fountain upgrades
Fundraising ideas and connections to chapters that have done similar work
Recognition
As we roll out our chapter recognition system, your chapter's participation in YESWater will count toward your standing. Chapters that complete the foundation — testing and educating — will be recognized. Chapters that go further by securing fountain upgrades or building creative awareness campaigns will earn higher recognition.
