The Role Of Mains-Fed Water Coolers In Sustainable Hydration

Over the last few years, sustainability has been on the radar of businesses right across the UK. Whether the focus has been on reducing plastic use, lowering vehicle emissions, or installing solar power for energy, such practices are now common as businesses look to do more for a cleaner environment. But, one area of sustainability that can often get overlooked is responsible water use. With World Water Day highlighting the importance of water conservation each year, businesses are now looking for new ways to provide fresh drinking water for employees while reducing their environmental impact. And, as a sustainable alternative to bottled water dispensers, one of the most effective ways to do this is with a Thirsty Work mains-fed water cooler or workplace water tap.

What is World Water Day?

This is an international observance day created by the United Nations in 1993. The event is held on March 22nd every year, and its sole aim is to highlight the vital importance of water while raising awareness about the global water shortage crisis. It also highlights the sustainable management of water resources at local, national, and international levels.

Every year, World Water Day has a purpose-led theme. Past themes have included Groundwater, Leveraging Water For Peace, and Accelerating Change, and in 2025, the theme is Glacier Preservation. In raising awareness of these issues, it’s hoped that we can all work together to take action on tackling the global water crisis. Read more about why World Water Day is celebrated.

Why sustainable hydration is a big deal

As we know, water is an essential resource for every living thing. But rapid climate change, mass population growth, and water waste are adding immense pressure on global water supplies. With sustainable hydration, businesses can provide and drink water responsibly, reduce waste, and support global conservation efforts.

For offices and workplaces, this means looking beyond traditional methods, like bottled water coolers or single-use plastic bottles, to more sustainable options that are both cost-effective and eco-friendly, like a fully installed mains-fed water cooler or workplace water tap. But how does sustainable hydration like this benefit you as a business? The key is to look at the bigger picture and how you’re contributing.

Reducing your plastic waste

For starters, you’re reducing plastic waste. One of the biggest advantages of any type of mains-fed water cooler is its ability to reduce plastic waste, while traditional bottled water coolers use large plastic containers that need replacing regularly. This increased reliance on plastic means more enters our world right when it should be less.

While some of those single-use plastic bottles and cups will get recycled properly by suppliers that take their environmental policies seriously, many could end up in a landfill or as waste floating in a river or ocean. Plus, even doing good things like responsible bottle disposal or recycling still has an environmental impact.

Lowering your carbon footprint

Secondly, the transportation, production, and distribution of bottled water has a significant carbon footprint – even though it might only be within the UK. Each stage of the supply chain, from manufacturing and bottling to storage and delivery, uses natural resources, all of which have emissions. 

Mains-fed water coolers and taps offer businesses a low-carbon alternative. No water deliveries mean reduced fuel use and vehicle emissions. And with no reliance on plastic water bottles, you reduce the need for plastic production, which uses more natural resources and energy with increased emissions. For businesses that want to cut their carbon emissions, switching to a mains-fed system is a positive step towards net-zero.

A more sustainable way to drink water

The beauty of any mains-fed water system is that it delivers a constant supply of fresh, fully-filtered drinking water. Both a mains-fed water cooler and workplace tap water system are plumbed directly into your mains water supply, so it naturally cuts out any unnecessary water waste. Unlike bottled water coolers, which often lead to half-used bottles being replaced, mains-fed systems provide water on demand with precision. 

Each user only takes the amount they want or need, which prevents bottled water wastage. Plus, while bottled water is naturally filtered, mains-fed systems use advanced Pura filtration systems which remove any lingering contaminants or impurities that are leftover from the water treatment process to deliver high-quality, clean, safe drinking water without needing bottled alternatives.

Waste-free, mains-fed systems definitely line up with the key principles of World Water Day, which exists to promote the importance of water conservation on a global scale.

The workplace water tap – A better way to hydrate

For any business looking to make sustainability in their offices as seamless as possible, a workplace water tap is something that will blend right in. Instead of a freestanding or countertop mains-fed water cooler that can take up precious kitchen or canteen space, these taps provide instant, mains-fed access to filtered, chilled, or hot water straight from the tap. 

By installing one of these alongside your traditional tap unit, you can immediately remove the need for plastic bottles or disposable plastic cups and help your business reduce its environmental footprint. Also, they minimise fridge overload as they deliver chilled water as standard, lowering your energy consumption.

Improved hygiene and safety

Sustainability also goes hand in hand with hygiene and safety. So, alongside pure-filtered chilled, hot, or ambient water at the touch of a button, water taps can provide a cleaner, more hygienic way for people to get their water fix. But with something as high-touch as a communal water tap, there’s the very real possibility that it can quickly become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.

To tackle this issue, Thirsty Work can have your tap covered with a protective antibacterial and antiviral coating. Called Puraguard, this special external sanitiser gives 24-hour protection from bacteria, moulds, fungi and viruses for a safer, cleaner, and more hygienic way to enjoy fully filtered water.

While Puraguard can give the protection people need from something as high-touch as a tap, another option is installing a completely touch-free tap. Operated using a remote device, the tap helps reduce the spreading of germs in shared office kitchens, canteens, and break rooms. And even these can be coated with Puraguard, so either option is beneficial to high-traffic workplaces where hygiene is essential.

At a time when workplace hygiene is more important than ever, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, a mains-fed cooler or water tap gives everyone a bit more peace of mind. While achieving this, it also supports sustainability in the workplace through any mission-led Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.

Mains-fed hydration from Thirsty Work

With positive benefits ranging from reduced plastic waste to long-term cost savings, investing in a mains-fed water cooler or workplace water tap is a smart choice for any business looking to improve hydration options for their employees while supporting sustainability schemes like World Water Day. 

Whichever of these options you’re thinking of using, by switching to more sustainable mains-fed hydration, you get to help create a healthier, greener, and more sustainable workplace that benefits both employees and the environment. Speak with a member of our Thirsty Work customer service team today, and they’ll give you the facts and stats you need to make the right choice for you. 

Call us today on 01392 877 172 or email us at hello@thirstywork.com for your free quote and to get started with your 10-day free trial.