Cost of Ownership Comparison between Mains-Fed and Bottled Water Dispensers

While there may still be some situations where a Bottled Water Dispenser is ideal (e.g. where there is no access to mains water, or in a Portacabin where plastic pipes could freeze and split during the winter) there is little justification. Just to emphasise the point here is a simple cost comparison between the two different types.

The numbers are typical industry averages and aren’t based on any particular model or manufacturer.

Let’s use the example of an office with 20 employees:

Assumptions

• Each Water Dispenser will serve 20 employees
• Bottled water is supplied in 19 litre containers
• 10 employees consume approximately 1 bottle per week
• Rental and sanitisation cost of a typical bottled Water Dispenser              £ 84.00
• Number of 19 litre bottles per week (based on 10 employees per bottle)             2
• Typical cost of bottle     £ 5.50
• Cost per litre of water on metered supply                                                    £ 0.0013
• Premises on a Water Meter (worst case scenario)

Therefore:

Bottled Water Dispenser Cost

Total Cost for water supplied in bottles in a year = £ 5.50 x 2 x 52 = £ 572.00

Total Cost for Water Dispenser and water in First Year = £ 84 + £ 572= £ 656.00

Total Cost for Water Dispenser and water over Three Years = £ 1968.00

Mains-Fed Water Dispenser costs:

Installation Cost      FREE

Annual rental and maintenance cost £ 312.00

Cost of water from metered supply = £0.001 x 2,000 litres =    £ 2.00

Total cost for Mains-Fed Water Dispenser in First Year £ 314.00

Total Cost for Mains-Fed Water Dispenser over Three Years £ 942.00

Now compare the two sets of figures in the Table below:

Bottled Water Dispenser Mains Fed Dispenser

Total Cost for First Year £656.00            £314.00

Total Cost for Three Years £1,968.00      £942.00

Saving - £342 (yr 1)      -£1026 (over 3 yrs)

As you can see, in a three year period, the cost advantage of Mains-Fed Water Dispensers is enormous ! N.B. This doesn’t include the environmental costs of transporting and eventually disposing of over 250 plastic bottles!

Should I Buy a Water Dispenser Outright or Rent?

Series 6, Episode 1 of The Dragon’s Den which was screened on BBC2 21st July 2008, showcased a cooler designed to produce water from air. The product professed to produce “the purest water on the planet” but failed to secure any funding after a taste test by the Dragons.

Freshwater Coolers plc has always advocated mains fed water coolers and provide cool, chilled filtered water using reliable, tested methods.

Our mains fed water coolers meet all current Health and Safety standards and promote the minimisation of carbon emissions associated with other water supply provision such as bottle fed products.

Freshwater Coolers plc specialise in mains fed water coolers, fountains and hot water boilers. The company will not consider any other method of water delivery to the business market.

So we recommend you get a water dispenser.

Call 0800 169 4008 or visit http://www.freshwatercoolers.com/water-dispenser/dragons-den/ to download our FREE Buyer's Guide to help you make the correct choice when buying a Water Cooler or Hot Water Dispenser.  Packed full of tips and advice to save you money!

A Water Dispenser and Your Legal Requirements Part 2

Following the recent installation of a drinking Water Dispenser at Kings Heath Boys School, Birmingham,  the bursar Mrs Gibbons said “We have noticed a real change in the behaviour of our children since we removed our vending machines and encouraged the increased consumption of water.

The water cooler has provided a healthy alternative”.

It's amazing the impact water can have on our lives

So we recommend you get a water dispenser.

Call 0800 169 4008 or visit http://www.freshwatercoolers.com/free-report/ to download our FREE Buyer's Guide to help you make the correct choice when buying a Water Cooler or Hot Water Dispenser.  Packed full of tips and advice to save you money!

The Difference between a Bottled and Mains Fed Water Dispenser

The main difference is the way water is delivered to the Water Dispenser.

Bottled Water Dispensers need:

•           Water supplied from large plastic bottles, holding around 19 litres of water, installed on the top of the dispenser

•           Some storage space nearby to hold a stock of bottles to prevent water running out

•           Someone to change the water bottle when it becomes empty (when full they are heavy and awkward to move)

•           Someone to make sure replacement bottles are ordered when stock runs low

•           Connection to mains electricity if water is to be chilled

•           Sanitising to ensure contamination through handling is kept at acceptable levels

In summary, Bottled Water Dispensers are convenient as they can be sited almost anywhere. The only restriction on location being access to mains power if the water is to be chilled. However, they need frequent attention by someone in the office or workplace to make sure the supply of water never runs out. Also the bottles (empty or full) take up valuable office space. The total footprint of the dispenser plus a sensible supply of bottles needs to be taken into account in any cost of ownership calculation.

The bottles, when full, weigh around 20kg, or 44lbs, so there is a Health and Safety risk whenever they need to be exchanged or moved around the office. The Health and Safety Executive General Risk Assessment Guidelines suggest that this weight should not be lifted above waist height by men; and not at all by women.

Mains-Fed Water Dispensers need:

•           Connection to mains cold water - this is usually part of the installation process. There is no need to site the dispenser close to existing copper pipe as the connection is usually made using “food-grade” plastic pipe which can be run unobtrusively over quite large distances.

•           Connection to mains power, for chilling and/or heating the water at the point of use.

•           Sanitisation of the internal components regularly and effectively.

Since there are no bottles the total footprint is much smaller as there are no bottles to store nearby. This also means there are no heavy weights to carry or empty bottles to dispose of. Once installed there is no other administrative overhead in terms of managing supplies or reordering, or in time spent changing empty bottles for full ones.

These are the main reasons we only supply Mains-Fed Water Dispensers for either chilled, ambient or hot water. There are others so see below in a later section on Ten Reasons why your office needs a Mains-Fed Water Dispenser.

A Water Dispenser and Your Legal Requirements Part 1

London tap water has been rated superior to expensive mineral waters in a blind tasting conducted by some of the most sophisticated drinkers in the country.

At less than 1p per litre, it beat 20 bottled waters, including some which sell for £50 a litre, in the survey conducted by Decanter, the wine drinkers magazine.

The panel, made up of Masters of Wine, top sommeliers and some of the most experienced palates in the country, voted tap water supplied by Thames Water third equal in a tasting of 24 products.

The top scoring water was Waiwera , from New Zealand, which sells for £9 per litre at Claridge’s. This was followed by Vittell, which costs 39p a litre at Tesco.
The result comes a month after the National Consumer Council launched a campaign to force restaurants to offer free tap water.

Our recommendation is therefore that you don't buy your water, but do filter and chill it, using a cheap and easy to run water dispenser.

Call 0800 169 4008 or visit http://www.freshwatercoolers.com to download our FREE Buyer's Guide to help you make the correct choice when buying a Water Cooler or Hot Water Dispenser.  Packed full of tips and advice to save you money!