Dehydration in the workplace can hit productivity and performance, while also being bad for health. Richard Newman, head of product management at Heatrae Sadia, looks at the best options for specifiers who are looking to supply a reliable source of drinking water for workers.
The problems caused by dehydration in the workplace are well documented, with everything from significant drops in productivity to headaches, tiredness and irritability being caused by a failure to drink enough water.
The Eatwell guide suggests that individuals should aim to drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day while the government’s Health and Safety Executive advises drinking “frequently in small volumes” while at work in a bid to ensure workers don’t suffer from the effects of dehydration. They also advise that cool water is preferable to tea, coffee and carbonated drinks.
But in a real-world work environment where the pressure is on and deadlines are tight, it can be easy for employees to forget to make the trip to top up their glass, making it vitally important for facilities managers to ensure they have a reliable, easy-to-use source of cold drinking water ready and available at all times, within easy reach. But which options should be considered?
Whilst tap water meets the letter of the law, it doesn’t always offer the best taste experience which can prove to be off-putting for many. With increasing numbers of options on the market, from bottled water to filters that can be used at home, people are generally becoming more discerning in the quality of water they drink – and they want this experience to be replicated in the workplace.
Water coolers are a popular choice, but they can prove costly and their large, heavy water containers can be cumbersome as they are difficult to both manoeuvre and store.
A more economical and easier to manage solution is to chill and filter mains water via plumbed-in units. These units offer many advantages such as the ability to be thermostatically controlled and can be either floor stored or mounted onto the wall for convenience. They also offer a high-level of hygiene and are easy and safe to use, without the need for lifting heavy bottles.
Drawing their water directly from the mains, plumbed-in units are hassle free and financially efficient – and they’re easy to install which helps to prevent initial disruption in the workplace.
Heatrae Sadia offers the SuperChill chilled water unit, which is available in three different models for varying applications. It offers a factory-fitted filter and can be installed in addition to existing taps, and because it is plumbed into the mains water supply, it offers an endless source of hydration and refreshment
For workplaces where both hot and chilled water are required from the same unit, Aquatap can be the ideal solution. It can deliver both ambient and chilled water, with options including boiling only, boiling/chilled and boiling/ambient.Aquatap is also cool to the touch and features a built-in safety button which prevents boiling water being released by accident.
This makes it an ideal catch-all solution for everything from offices to commercial kitchens – especially when you consider the fact that it is incredibly reliable, offering the capacity for up to 150 cups of chilled water one after the other at any one time.
Avoiding dehydration in the workplace is a key responsibility for employers, and ensuring that workers have access to a reliable, easy-to-use source of chilled water should be a priority for facilities managers. By making the right choice they can help to ensure a healthy, happy workforce.
For further information visit www.heatraesadia.com or call 01603 420 220.
