With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
Most of us are aware of the importance of drinking lots of water, but this is even more important in a working environment. Staying properly hydrated will help to maintain concentration, boost performance and even reduce sick days, so a good source of drinking water should be a priority for every office. Selecting a water cooler can be a little daunting, as there is a wide variety of models to choose from. So, here are some steps to help you to select the best office water cooler.
Size is Everything
The right size of water cooler is one of the first and most important considerations. There is no point in having a cooler that is too small, as you’ll find yourself changing the bottle practically every day, but a large cooler can unnecessarily increase your costs. To accurately estimate the optimum size of your new cooler, calculate how many people will be using the cooler on an average day. Most experts recommend we drink 2 to 3 litres of water each day, so you need to assume that most of your employees will be drinking approximately 1 litre per day. So, if you have 20 team members, they are going to be drinking approximately 20 litres of water each day. Remember that you’ll also need to consider placement. If your team works in different areas, you may be better having multiple smaller coolers around your premises.
Placing Your Cooler
Most coolers can be located anywhere on your premises. The most popular location is a kitchen or break room, but if you have a busy office, it may be a good idea to have a cooler directly in the room. Your team will need to have easy access to the cooler, but you’ll need to ensure that it doesn’t obstruct any walkways or create a trip hazard. For this reason, you should place your cooler against a wall, where the power cable can be neatly tucked away. Most cooler models take up very little floor space, but you’ll need to think about choosing a location that provides easy access to replacement bottles.
The Right Design
Finally, you need to think about aesthetics. If you’re placing a water cooler in an area where potential clients will see it, you may prefer a sleek and stylish design that is less intrusive than a conventional water cooler. Fortunately, there are many types of cooler design that can more easily blend into your office decor. You can also choose between a free standing or countertop design, depending on which is better suited to your specific needs and preferences. For example, if you have a coffee making station, a countertop cooler can look very complementary next to your coffee machine, beverage supplies, and cups to create a stylish, yet practical statement.
If you are thinking about a water cooler for your office, you should speak to an experienced technician. A water expert can help you to determine your specific requirements and choose the best option for your office and workforce.