Why Every UK Office Needs A Touchless Water Dispenser In 2025

Over recent years, raising employee health, well-being, and hygiene standards has become something of a priority for businesses across the UK. One easy and practical way to do this in any workplace is to install an office water dispenser. Water coolers go beyond convenience – they offer healthy hydration that benefits employees in all health-conscious, productive, and efficient workspaces. If your current water cooler has seen better days and it’s time for an upgrade, here’s why a touchless office water dispenser should be something you invest in for 2025.

Post-COVID hygiene in the workplace

While all businesses thought they had a handle on workplace health and hygiene, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 changed everything. Putting the cleanliness and hygiene of offices and workplaces in the UK and around the world into sharp focus, businesses would need to follow much stricter procedures to safeguard employees as they returned to work after lockdowns. 

Among other things (like using copious amounts of hand sanitiser throughout the day), all shared surfaces, desks, chairs, and devices needed to be cleaned with disinfectant wipes to remove germs and bacteria and stop the spread of the virus. And, with its multiple touchpoints being a germ hotspot, every office water dispenser was included.

Fortunately, a touchless water dispenser takes away these touchpoints, so all employees have access to refreshing, filtered water without physically touching the water cooler itself. With hands-free technology, these mains-fed water dispensers give a smooth and efficient way to stay hydrated and have a more hygienic and germ-free workplace.

Your employee health and well-being

The health and well-being of any employee is directly linked to workplace productivity. Staying hydrated at work is important for maintaining concentration and focus while improving memory and giving a much-needed energy boost. With even a 1 or 2 per cent drop in fluids affecting all these things, the good news is that a touchless office water dispenser can deliver refreshing chilled, ambient, or hot water on demand.

These options will help your team stay hydrated and perform at their best during their day. Many water coolers can also be fitted with advanced filtration systems that remove any lurking contaminants or impurities, giving a better-tasting alternative to standard tap water. 

Giving your team easy access to a high-quality office water dispenser is a small but effective way to encourage a healthier and more productive team. Providing a reliable, touchless office water dispenser shows that you value your workforce and are committed to their well-being, which can boost team morale, productivity, and overall job satisfaction in the long run.

How does a water dispenser become touchless?

Depending on the model, many touchless office water dispensers are fitted with state-of-the-art tech, giving employees a futuristic way to stay hydrated during the day. This kind of tech usually involves infrared or detection sensors that recognise hand movements at a certain distance to dispense the water without any physical contact at all.

However, it can be more common for a mains-fed water cooler (again, depending on the model) to be retrofitted with tech or extra kit to make it touchless. From freestanding units to countertop models, you can choose the option that complements your office and meets the needs of you and your team. Here are some of the most common:

• Smartphone app: Using Bluetooth and a touchless smartphone app, an upgraded, app-enabled water cooler can dispense ambient, chilled, or hot water on demand, completely hands-free up to 2m away just using your smartphone. 
• Touchless foot switch: Though less hi-tech than an app, a touchless, 3-way foot switch can still reduce the spread of germs and bacteria on water cooler touch panels. Once fitted, stepping on your preferred switch will deliver ambient, chilled, or hot water effortlessly.
• Touch-Free Hydro tap: Taking touchless technology one step further and into the office kitchen, a touch-free Hydro tap is a compact under-counter unit for any sink. As mentioned, these are fitted with infrared smart detectors to deliver chilled, ambient, sparkling, or hot water when your hand is approx. 2cm away.

And with touchless paddle adaptors also available for office hot water dispensers, all bases are covered to keep your team hydrated safely, whatever they’re drinking.

Top considerations

With touchless water dispensers gaining in popularity and workplace health and well-being being a bigger priority, now could be a great time to retrofit or upgrade your water cooler for a touchless model. If you’re still making your mind up, here are six essential factors for you to consider:

• Water capacity: Ensure your water cooler can meet the water consumption needs of your team. A 50l/h capacity is ideal for a larger team with heavy use, but a smaller capacity will suit smaller teams with occasional use.
• Filtration: Choose a water cooler with an advanced filtration system for great-tasting water. This filtration will remove any bad odours, contaminants, and particulates – even microplastics – that aren't caught in the mains water treatment process.
• Temperature options: Do your employees need just chilled or ambient water to drink during the day, or would a hot water option be welcomed to make quick and easy work of those all-important tea rounds and lunchtime snacks?
• Cooler position: With freestanding or countertop models available, you can make your choice based on your office layout. Mains-fed water coolers can also be positioned up to 13m away from the mains plumbing in any direction.
• Energy efficiency: Alongside health and well-being, energy efficiency is another top consideration. Choose a unit with features that include an eco mode, helping you to reduce energy use and running costs.
• Maintenance: Despite being touchless, your water cooler will still need some TLC along the way. Choosing the right service and maintenance plan from your water cooler supplier will help keep it in excellent working order, inside and out.

Boost hydration with touchless tech

In 2025, a touchless office water dispenser will be more than just a hi-tech upgrade – it will reflect the workplace health and well-being priorities of your business. From promoting good hygiene practices to bringing in a more sustainable and efficient way to stay hydrated, a water cooler is a perfect, and you might say necessary, addition to today’s workplaces.

By introducing a touchless office water dispenser to your business, you can create a safer, healthier, and more productive place to work. As the demand for smart tech grows, these water coolers can change how many businesses approach health and hydration in the workplace. So why not take advantage now, so your employees stay refreshed and motivated throughout the day?

Go touchless today with Thirsty Work

To find out more about any of the touchless water dispensers in our range, speak with our customer service team today on 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com. Along with all the information you need, you can get a free quote and get started with your 10-day free trial of any of the water coolers in our range.