Staying Hydrated and Informed

Some people forget to drink water, others always have a bottle of water on their desk, while others reach for plastic bottled water. Whichever person you identify with, there are three important things to know.

1. Water is essential for physiological processes.

2. Tap water can contain harmful micro-plastics.

3. Choosing plastic bottled water has a huge environmental impact.

Water is essential to keep your body in good working order, and it makes up a significant portion of the human body. An adequate water balance in the body requires 1 ml of water for each kcal consumed. Considering that an individual consumes an average of 2,000 kcal per day, 2 litres of water per day is therefore recommended, or more in case of intense physical activity.

Water is essential for multiple vital bodily functions such as:

• Cleansing the body - regulating body temperature
• Maintains proper hydration - increases muscle tone and elasticity
• Reduces water retention thanks to the anti-inflammatory action
• Promotes metabolic functions that transform fats into carbon dioxide and water, therefore it also aids weight loss

Healthy hydration during the workday

We spend most of the day in the workplace, whether you work in an office or remotely from home. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of water throughout your day in order to maintain your physical health as well as cognitive performance, such as concentration and memory. It is strongly advised to have a healthy, safe and delicious source of water always available, however, this is something that tap water alone does not guarantee.

Microplastics in our water

It has been shown that tap water around the world and the UK is contaminated by various substances that break down from plastic in our waterways (so-called microplastics), such as nylon and polypropylene 1. Ingesting and absorbing these microplastics is harmful to our health. What about plastic bottled water? Switching over from tap water to plastic bottled water is not the answer, either! This is because single-use plastic bottles contain BPA, a toxic chemical that has been proven to cause hormone imbalances and even cancer.

Water use and the environment

Another reason why single-use plastic bottles aren’t a good choice is that the environmental aspect must be considered. The production process of plastic bottles requires the consumption of large quantities of water and oil, which cause harmful emissions, both in production and in transport, and take 500 years to completely biodegrade. In short, plastic bottles pollute before, during and even after being put on the market. We breathe the CO2 released into the atmosphere and also find the microplastics in the water we drink.

Healthy and sustainable options for drinking water

Drinking water from a glass or a reusable bottle has a huge impact. The healthiest and most environmentally sustainable option is to install a water dispenser or a drinking fountain, to provide employees with unlimited, filtered, high-quality water all day long. By installing a water dispenser, you are bypassing all the negatives of both tap water and plastic bottled water.

We at The Water Cooler Company have been providing sustainable alternatives for quality drinking water since 2003. We offer simple, effective and economic water machines, as well as tailor-made hydration solutions for businesses, accompanied by ongoing maintenance and sanitisation visits.

Those who choose a Mains-fed Water Cooler, Drinking Fountain or Bottle Refill Station take care of their employees and guests, all the while being environmentally conscious. After all, it is up to us whether the impact will be positive or negative for the health of the environment and the people and animals who inhabit it.