The Hydration Station Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held in the Student Lounge on April 20 at 2 p.m. with the President of the Associated Students, William Ashby, and President Dreyfuss giving a few words about the project ceremony.

“This hydration station will provide the campus community with a free environmentally-further resource of pure, refrigerated water for refilling reusable bottles.” Dreyfuss said.

Keynote speaker Steven Katnick, a professor of Science at Rio Hondo College, explained about the importance of water and how some Oak trees around campus, estimated to be 200 years old, are dead, due to lack of water.

“It is hypothesized that this area, over the next 50 years, will become much more desert-like.” Katnick said.

Katnick also revealed interesting information that most water bottles are filled with tap water that has been purified, which shocked a lot of students at the ceremony.

Katnik explained the process of the filter which removes odors and vapors that are related to carbon fiber.

It also gets rid of chlorine and salt, something Katnick said is used to give purified water bottles their taste.

According to the presentation, the Hydration Station, which cost roughly $5,000, was funded with students’ money and the Associated Students of Rio Hondo College.

The objective is to decrease the carbon footprint by reducing the amount of individuals’ plastic use. Water from the Hydration Station is filtered and kept cold, where students can easily walk in and fill their bottles. It is located conveniently by the men and women’s restroom of the Student Lounge.

The project has the potential to save students an estimated average of $500 each fiscal year, something the President of the Associated Students William Ashby was excited about, “It’s very important that we have this facility because it can really help students stay hydrated. They can just come into the Student Lounge and refill their water bottles with the Hydration Station.”

The new water station has a nozzle to easily refill reusable bottles, something Ashley Mendoza, a new coming freshman, was excited about.

“I think it’s very cool that the school provided a hydration system that can finally provide refreshing filtered water to the students on the campus. It is definitely something we can all benefit from, especially during the summer.” Mendoza said.

Attendees who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony were presented with their own reusable water containers, provided by Rio Hondo’s Associated Students.

“It’s a cool little container, man. I can definitely take it to the gym, to work, everywhere I go. The cool thing is I can get it refilled for free. Say bye to the plastic cancer bottles!” student Carlos Ramirez said as he took his new flask filled with cold water.

The Associated Students at Rio are currently deciding whether to add more units around the school.