Uvalde CISD and Zurn Elkay Launch Major Initiative to Deliver Cleaner, Safer Drinking Water
Thousands of students, teachers, staff members, and community residents in Uvalde will soon have access to cleaner, healthier, and safer drinking water thanks to a significant donation from Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. The company has partnered with Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) to provide a comprehensive water filtration upgrade valued at approximately $370,000, aimed at improving drinking water quality across district campuses.
The donation includes 36 Elkay Pro Filtration filtered bottle filling stations, 19 Elkay ezH2O filtered bottle filling stations, 73 filtration conversion kits, and a five-year supply of replacement filters for all donated units. Once installed, the equipment will ensure consistent access to filtered drinking water for approximately 4,000 students, faculty, staff members, and visitors throughout the district.
The announcement was celebrated during a special event held at Dalton Elementary School, where district leaders, elected officials, community representatives, and students gathered to recognize the partnership and its impact on local schools. Joining the celebration were UCISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Juan Hinojosa, Zurn Elkay Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability Angela Hersil, Texas State Representative Don McLaughlin, and Uvalde Mayor Hector R. Luevano.
Comprehensive Water Upgrades Planned Across Schools
Installation of the donated equipment is scheduled to begin during the summer months. The project will span five UCISD schools and significantly modernize existing drinking water infrastructure.
Under the initiative, outdated and unfiltered drinking fountains will be replaced with modern filtered bottle filling stations. The district plans to provide approximately one filtered filling station for every 100 students, helping ensure convenient access to safe drinking water throughout school campuses.
In addition to bottle filling stations, classroom and cafeteria faucets across the district will be upgraded through the installation of Elkay filtration conversion kits and replacement cartridges. These improvements will allow students and staff to access filtered water from multiple points throughout school facilities rather than relying solely on traditional drinking fountains.
The upgrades are expected to improve daily hydration while reducing exposure to contaminants that may be present in aging water systems.
Addressing Critical Water Quality Concerns
A key component of the project is the use of advanced filtration technology designed to remove potentially harmful contaminants from drinking water.
Elkay filters have been independently tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401, which verify their ability to reduce contaminants including lead, microplastics, chlorine taste and odor, and other substances that may affect water quality. Many filter models are also engineered to reduce certain PFAS compounds, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment and human body.
Lead contamination remains a significant concern for schools and communities nationwide. Even low levels of lead exposure can be particularly harmful to children, potentially affecting brain development, learning ability, and overall health. Because many educational facilities across the United States were built decades ago, aging plumbing infrastructure can present ongoing water quality challenges.
By installing point-of-use filtration systems, schools can immediately improve drinking water quality without undertaking expensive and time-consuming plumbing replacement projects.
Supporting Student Health and Academic Success
District leaders emphasized that access to clean drinking water plays a critical role in student health, wellness, and academic performance.
Dr. Juan Hinojosa, Interim Superintendent of UCISD, described the donation as a transformative investment in the district’s future.
He noted that access to safer drinking water should never be considered a luxury but rather a basic necessity for every child. According to district leaders, the partnership helps guarantee that students and staff will have reliable access to high-quality drinking water throughout the school day.
Hinojosa also highlighted the significance of the investment in a community where resources are often limited. He praised Zurn Elkay for recognizing the needs of Uvalde students and choosing to direct support toward an area where infrastructure improvements can have a meaningful and lasting impact.
School officials believe the new filtration systems will encourage increased hydration among students while providing parents with additional confidence about the quality of water available on campus.
Fountains for Youth Initiative Expands National Impact
The donation to UCISD is part of Zurn Elkay’s Fountains for Youth initiative, a nationwide program focused on addressing lead contamination and improving drinking water access in schools located in underserved communities.
The initiative targets districts where water quality concerns may exist but where financial resources for infrastructure improvements are limited. Through equipment donations and ongoing filter support, the program enables schools to rapidly improve drinking water quality without placing additional financial burdens on local taxpayers.
According to company leadership, the initiative remains one of Zurn Elkay’s most important community investment programs.
Todd A. Adams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, said schools serve as more than educational institutions. They are also essential providers of daily drinking water for millions of children across the country.
He emphasized that children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure and that improving water quality can play an important role in supporting healthy development during critical learning years. Adams noted that the company is proud to partner with UCISD in delivering safer drinking water to students throughout the district.
Environmental Benefits Beyond Water Quality
In addition to improving public health, the new bottle filling stations are expected to generate significant environmental benefits.
Modern bottle filling stations encourage students and staff to use reusable water bottles rather than purchasing single-use plastic beverages. This shift can dramatically reduce plastic waste generated on school campuses.
According to Zurn Elkay, use of the company’s bottle filling stations eliminated the need for more than 20 billion single-use plastic bottles during 2025 alone. By expanding access to filtered drinking water, schools can support sustainability initiatives while reducing waste disposal costs and environmental impact.
The stations also provide users with convenient hydration options throughout the day, making it easier to refill reusable bottles quickly and efficiently.
Community Leaders Welcome the Investment
The project has received strong support from local government officials and community leaders who view the donation as an important investment in public health and education.
Texas State Representative Don McLaughlin praised the partnership and described the initiative as a major positive development for the community. He expressed appreciation to both Zurn Elkay and district leadership for pursuing a project that will benefit current and future generations of students.
Mayor Hector R. Luevano also welcomed the donation, emphasizing the importance of providing children with easy access to high-quality drinking water. He noted that hydration plays a critical role in overall health and that improving water quality represents a meaningful step forward for the community.
Angela Hersil, Zurn Elkay’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability, said the company recognizes its responsibility to help address challenges related to water safety, cleanliness, conservation, and infrastructure. She explained that the company’s filtration products offer immediate improvements at the point of use, allowing communities to provide safer drinking water without waiting for large-scale infrastructure replacement projects.
A Long-Term Investment in Uvalde’s Future
For UCISD, the donation represents more than a facility upgrade. It is a long-term investment in student health, educational success, and community well-being.
The five-year filter commitment ensures that the equipment will continue operating effectively well into the future, maintaining consistent water quality standards across district campuses. Combined with upgraded classroom and cafeteria filtration systems, the project establishes a comprehensive drinking water improvement strategy that reaches students throughout the school day.
As installation begins this summer, thousands of children across Uvalde schools will soon benefit from reliable access to filtered drinking water. The partnership between UCISD and Zurn Elkay demonstrates how public and private organizations can work together to address critical infrastructure needs while supporting healthier learning environments for future generations.
With enhanced filtration technology, expanded access points, environmental benefits, and long-term maintenance support, the initiative stands as a significant step toward ensuring that every student in Uvalde has access to safe, clean, and dependable drinking water every day.
About Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
Named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies and one of America’s Greenest Companies by Newsweek and one of the World’s Best Companies for Sustainable Growth by TIME, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a growth-oriented, pure-play water management business that designs, procures, manufactures and markets what we believe to be the broadest sustainable product portfolio of specification-driven water management solutions to improve health, hydration, human safety and the environment. The Zurn Elkay product portfolio includes professional grade water safety and control products, flow systems products, hygienic and environmental products and filtered drinking water products for public and private spaces.
