Environmental group Tap who are driving this campaign say that British consumers spend more than £1.5bn on bottled water each year and have discarded more than three billion empty containers.

Three common myths about tap water are dispelled:

1. Tap water is not as safe as bottled water – FALSE

UK tap water is one of the safest in the world. Contamination of our tap water is extremely rare. Tap water is rigorously tested and the results are made publicly available, whereas bottled water producers are not required to publish details of their own tests.

Direct Water Coolers’ mains fed drinking water coolers have optional UV purification. This feature is popular where extra re-assurance on water safety is required. In tank UV purification has been scientifically proven to be the most effective way of killing bacteria without adding chemicals or removing beneficial minerals. Waterlogic’s UV purification removes 99.999% of all bacteria including E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella, Hepatitis, Poliovirus and Cryptosporidium.

2. Tap Water does not taste as good as bottled water – FALSE

There are natural variations in tap water flavour depending on the source and mineral content. In blind taste tests most people cannot tell the difference between tap water and bottled water. However, the most common reason why people think that tap water doesn’t taste as nice as bottled water is that its normally drunk at room temperature, whereas bottled water is normally chilled.

Direct Water Coolers’ mains fed drinking water coolers chill tap water through direct chill technology, so that each cupful dispensed is as chilled and great tasting as the next.

3. Tap water tastes or smells of chlorine and contains impurities – FALSE

Chlorine is added to tap water to disinfect it and kill bacteria. Only tiny amounts are added – which are within the World Health Organisation’s guidelines. Tap water also contains naturally dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. If water contains these minerals in large quantities it is known as ‘hard’ water which can have a milky appearance but this is not harmful to health. Tap water doesn’t contain the preservatives that are added to bottled water.

Direct Water Coolers’ mains fed drinking water coolers feature an internal filtration process, which removes any waterborne tastes, odours and sediments to improve the taste quality and aesthetics of the water, whilst allowing the naturally occurring minerals and trace elements found in tap water to remain.

By tapping into your mains fed water supply with a Waterlogic water cooler we can provide a constant supply of chilled, still, sparkling or hot water. And of course by having a mains fed water cooler rather than a bottled water cooler then it reduces the need for constant deliveries and road miles to ensure the water supply and the need for non-biodegradable plastic bottles.

Waterlogic water coolers also look good in any environment, with sizes to suit – free standing or table top models available across the water cooler range and in an attractive charcoal grey and silver design. Click here to see our range of products

To meet high volume demand in busy offices, Waterlogic water coolers are able to dispense up to 100 cups of chilled water per hour. Our water coolers also incorporate large drip trays to cope with potential overflows, and an overflow cut out mechanism is available on some models.

For more information on ‘tap’ and the DIY water campaign, please visit www.wewanttap.com

When it comes to the provision of safe, hygienic drinking water, in these environments – Waterlogic water coolers from Direct Watercoolers are the perfect solution.

Our Waterlogic range of water coolers feature a unique combination of market leading technologies to make them the only mains fed water coolers available with such high levels of protection. To complement our existing UV purification technology, we have now introduced BioCote^®, an active surface bacterial control treatment at no additional cost to the customer. These two hygiene features in combination bring an unrivalled level of protection – total hygiene inside and out.

For more information on BioCote^®, download our informative leaflet.

Waterlogic coolers feature their established UV purification inside the water tank. In tank purification is scientifically proven to be the most effective protection against water-borne bacteria, destroying 99.999%* of all bacteria without adding chemicals, or removing beneficial minerals from the water. *NSF International (Standard 42).

In addition our water coolers now have BioCote^® antimicrobial protective coating incorporated into the dispensing surfaces to resist and prevent the build up and growth of bacteria on the outside of dispensers. Our BioCote^® protected dispensers offer an additional line of defence against surface bacteria caused by cross-contamination. Together with the existing UV technology, our Waterlogic dispensers now offer the highest levels of protection against the growth of micro-organisms such as Listeria, Legionella, MRSA, E coli and Salmonella. BioCote^® complements cleaning practices and reduces the levels of harmful bacteria on surfaces by up to 99.9% over a 24-hour period. With fewer surface bacteria it is logical that the risks of cross-contamination are reduced, which is very important in hygiene conscious environments like hospitals and healthcare generally, where the risks of infection are higher.

“One of the key benefits of the BioCote^® system is its longevity” explains Ruth Phillips, Marketing Manager. “BioCote^® provides a safe and effective barrier to bacteria for the lifetime of the water dispenser, and this great new feature comes to customers at no extra cost.” She adds, “The combination of internal treatment and external prevention ensures that users can be confident of hygienic drinking water dispensing.”

As well as UV and BioCote^®, Waterlogic water dispensers have clever design features that have been carefully integrated to promote hygiene. For instance, the recessed nozzle, which, unlike taps, minimises cross contamination from hand or cup contact. Similarly, the push button controls are easy to clean and located away from the water outlet, so minimising the risk of cross contamination.

For further information on Direct Watercoolers total hygiene solution, BioCote^® and UV, please call 0800 055 6642

What happens if I don’t drink enough?

Many people don’t even realise that they are dehydrated, because they have become so used to feeling below their best. If you feel thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated … Dehydration can leave you feeling tired, constipated nauseous and can often result in frequent headaches.

How do I know if I’m dehydrated?

A good indicator of adequate hydration is the colour of your urine! If its pale and straw coloured, you’re okay, any darker, you could probably benefit from drinking more.

How much fluid do I need?

In a moderate climate like ours, most of us need around 6-8 glasses of fluid a day to keep the balance right. If we have been sweating because it’s hot, or we’ve been exercising then our requirements increase.

Children run on water too!

Children establish drinking patterns early in their childhood, so it’s vital to teach them the importance of good hydration at an early age. Children can easily become dehydrated during hot weather and as a result of physical activity, because they have:

· a higher surface area to body mass compared to adults so are more likely to lose water by evaporation

· less developed sweating ability and kidney function

· less sensitive thirst response

Water is an excellent way for young people to replace lost fluid – as it does not contribute to weight gain or tooth decay.

In addition, water is an active ingredient to learning with studies showing that 2% dehydration causes a significant reduction (up to 10%) in concentration & behaviour, short-term memory and arithmetic efficiency.

Hydration and healthy ageing

Older people have a similar water requirement to that of younger people, but unfortunately many older people do not drink adequate amounts of water. The medical evidence for good hydration in older people shows that it can assist in the management of diabetes and help prevent pressure ulcers, constipation, urinary infections, incontinence, kidney stones, heart disease, low blood pressure, cognitive impairment, falls, poor oral health, skin conditions and many other illnesses.

Water and Cancer prevention

Studies in which the effect of water was considered found that people who maintained good levels of hydration had a reduced risk of large bowel cancer compared with people whose water intake was low. Good hydration can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 33% for pre-menopausal women and 79% for post-menopausal women.

The Supreme range of hot water boilers offer great flexibility in the amount of hot water dispensed – from 140 to 180 cups of hot water an hour and up to 45 cups of hot water instantaneously. And due to the boilers’ neat and safe construction, the possibilities of hot water leaks or spillages are drastically reduced compared to a kettle or tea urn.

The Supreme hot water boiler comes safely installed and maintained by PHS Waterlogic’s nation-wide team of in-house service engineers. Within their stylish insulated unit, the boilers are finished in either engineering grade thermoplastic or fingerprint resistant stainless steel.