WOODBURY — Do people drink enough water in a day? 

According to Harvard, teenagers 14-18 should drink 8-11 cups (64-88 ounces) of water every day. Nonnewaug school nurse Sandy Snabaitis says kids should drink eight eight-ounce cups of water a day – equivalent to two 32-ounce Stanleys.

As you enter a classroom, a common thing you’ll see on the desks is a variety of fancy water bottles: Stanleys, Owalas, Yetis, and Hydro Flasks. But do these water bottles encourage kids to drink more water? Or are they just for looks?

Freshman Jillian Bushka feels her Stanley motivates her to drink more water. 

“I could probably drink more water than I do now,” said Bushka. “I have a Stanley and it motivates me to drink more water.”

Freshman Tatum Kociszewski agrees with Bushka that her water bottle helps.

“Yeah, I think I drink a good amount because I fill up my water bottle a lot throughout the day,” said Kociszewski.

On the other hand, some, like junior Brayden Whipple, aren’t a fan of water because of the taste.

“I don’t really drink water because it’s just tasteless. I usually will drink Gatorade or something with flavor,” said Whipple. 

Sophomore Gianna Desjardins agrees with Whipple. 

“I don’t really drink a lot of water because it really doesn’t have flavor to it,” said Desjardins. 

Sports are also a way students feel they are motivated to drink more water. Junior Connor Segers says his practice is where he drinks the most. 

“I feel like I drink the most water at practice but that leaves me dehydrated for the start of practice,” said Segers. 

Freshman Rosie Makarewicz feels she needs to drink more water because of her sports. 

“I do a lot of sports and I always think I need to take more,” said Makarewicz.

Snabaitis has ideas for kids to drink more water throughout the school day. 

“We sell water [bottles] here and I have cups for kids if they forget one,” said Snabitis. “And if the kids don’t like plain water, they can put flavor in it.”