CIVIQ: From queue to cool: Don’t let warm bubblers win this summer

Get Your School Water Points Summer-Ready. Summer doesn’t stretch out lunchtime.

It just means every student gets thirsty at once.

Same 20 minutes. Same oval. Same courts. Same old bubbler in the shade.

Then the heat arrives.

Students finish sport with empty bottles. The queue builds quickly. Some wait. Some give up. Some head back to class without enough water for the afternoon.

A summer-ready school needs two things from its water stations: fast refills and chilled water students actually want to drink.

1. Check the stations students avoid

Walk your school during lunch on a warm day. Not at 8am. Check which fountains students use, which ones they skip, and where the longest queues form. A Charles Sturt University study of 475 students across two regional Australian high schools found 30% never used school fountains, and 85% chose bottled water instead.

It’s not water they’re avoiding.They’re avoiding the water point.

2. Test temperature, not just flow

A bubbler can work but still fail the summer test. If the water runs warm, students notice immediately. Check each outlet after it’s been in the sun. Test the refill point near the oval, the one by the canteen, and the shaded station too.

Now ask the real question. Would students choose this water on a hot afternoon?

Chilled water is a winner in high-use zones, sports areas and warmer climates. Ambient water still works in shaded spots, covered walkways and quieter areas.

Not every station needs to be chilled. But your busiest summer water point probably does.

3. Count refill points, not just fountains

One fountain gives one student a quick sip.

A bottle refill point means that student leaves ready for the next lesson, training session or bus ride home.

For busy schools, capacity is everything. Aquafil Hydrobank gives schools three bottle refill points and three drinking fountains in one wall-mounted unit. Aquafil Pulse suits high-traffic refill zones where students need to fill bottles fast and keep moving.

The right setup depends on where your crowd gathers.

4. Check access, shade and drainage

Summer reveals every small site issue. Hot paving. Pooling water. Awkward buttons. Stations too high for younger students. Refill points out of reach for wheelchair users.

Shade works harder than most schools realise. A well-placed station feels more inviting even before you add a chiller.

5. Plan before the first hot week

Biloela State School replaced ageing water points with new Hydrobank water stations and saw the change clearly.

“They’re visually engaging, easier to use, and they support better hydration habits. Giving students better access to chilled water throughout the day – especially in our hot climate in Central Queensland – has been a real positive for our school.”

That’s the summer shift.

Less queue. More cool. More sip-to-smile moments.

Ready to get your school summer-ready?

Book a free Hydration Review with our team. 

We’ll review your current water points, check where summer pressure will hit hardest, and recommend the right station options for your school. You’ll receive a clear plan, practical product options, and a tailored quote.

Mention EDUAU26 to receive a Free Aboriginal Art Panel on qualified orders.

1300 600 300
civiq.com.au/educationau