In the United States, per capita soft drink consumption has increased by 500 percent in less than a generation. The story is similar world-wide. Instead of wringing their hands, some public health authorities are working to change that through public education. From Singapore to Santa Clara, California, actual advertisements urge children to choose water over sugary sodas or juice.

"On average, 20 to 30 percent of kids are overweight or obese, and we have to turn this around," says Santa Clara Public Health Department's Dr. Marty Fenstersheib. Their advertisements targeting parents reads, "Our Kids Are Drowning in Sugar" and advise "Protect kids from obesity and diabetes. Give them water instead of sugary drinks."

According to the Health Promotion Board, "almost half of Singapore teens aged 13 to 18 drank sugary drinks on a daily basis." The dramatic increase in the proportion of Type 2 diabetes, the kind that of diabetes that is lifestyle and not genetic in origin, is among the reasons Singapore's young diabetics spurred HPB to act. Their campaign targets children and teens directly to encourage them to choose water. HPB will reach out to "500 pre-schools by 2015, to ensure that children have water with every meal," among other things, and will introduce "water breaks between lessons in primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges."

So how can you get your own kids to drink more water? Try these 5 tips.

1) Make Drinking Water Easy

How do your children prefer to drink water? Some prefer room temperature water, others want ice, and some want their water cold but ice-free. Whatever your child's preference, make serving themselves clean, filtered water as easy as possible for your children. For temperate water, it doesn't get much easier than Berkey Filter System on the countertop. A pitcher or dispenser in the fridge filled as needed isn't much more complicated for parents and makes cold water ready and waiting.

2) Make Drinking Water Portable

Don't get stuck purchasing a sugary beverage while away from home because thirsty kids aren't carrying water bottles. Purchase a water bottle for every family member and make sure they carry them. You can either fill bottles from home or choose a Sport Berkey bottle to fill up wherever you are and still ensure great-tasting, filtered water. Simple Mom even sends her kids to bed with water bottles to encourage hydration throughout the night.

3) Reduce or Eliminate Alternative Beverages

It's a lot harder to drink soda and juice if it's not there. You may not be able to eliminate vending machines at school, but you can easily make water the only choice at home. If you'd rather not eliminate them completely, storing sodas at room temperature until a special occasion warrants chilling may also cut their consumption.

4) Add Flavor to Filtered Water

For kids who just don't like water plain, a mint plant on the counter or leaves in the fridge might do the trick. As would a squeeze bottle of lemon juice on the refrigerator door. Super Healthy Kids suggests using frozen berries instead of ice: flavors the water and is fun to much when they're done drinking. Try keeping a baggy of cherries, raspberries, or blueberries in the freezer next to the ice cubes.

Herbal tea bags steep in cold water, just a little more slowly, and the the flavor options are endless. Try tossing a bag in the your child's 20 ounce or larger water bottle at the beginning of the day. By mid-morning, they'll have homemade flavored water. Do you have a smaller child who carries less water or children who want that flavor at home? Try a bag in a mason jar in the fridge (or several). Refill/replace as needed.

5) Be a Well Hydrated Role Model

If you are drinking water throughout the day, it sends a strong message to your children that water is for drinking. You'll probably feel better too.