Should we be encouraging employees to drink tap water rather than bottled water?

We recently investigated the health differences between bottled water and tap water and found there were none!

In the UK we have some of the cleanest tap water in the world, which means there are no health benefits of bottled water over tap water. And let’s face it, the manufacturers of bottled water fill up their bottles from… taps.

• Is there a difference between drinking room temperature water and cold water?
• The benefits of staying hydrated

When it comes to the environment, tap water wins hands down. Not only does it take three litres of water to produce a one-litre bottle of water, but you also need to include the environmental cost of transporting that water from its source to the shop which adds to its carbon footprint, and of course, there’s the problem of disposing of the plastic bottle. So, if your company wants to raise its sustainability credentials, get rid of the water cooler that uses plastic bottles and encourage employees to drink tap water instead.

If your employees are concerned about the temperature of the water - and granted, on a warm day it is much nicer to drink cooled water - then encourage employees to fill up reusable water bottles and keep them in the fridge. It may take a bit more thought and planning, but it will be just as effective when it comes to temperature, better for the environment, and a lot cheaper for your company.

Is there a difference between drinking room temperature water and cold water?

There’s no evidence that drinking water that’s at room temperature or drinking cold water makes any difference when it comes to quenching thirst and rehydrating your body. As long as you encourage your staff to stay hydrated, that’s enough. This means there’s no excuse when it comes to encouraging them to drink tap water instead of expensive bottled water.

However, drinking cold water really does make a difference when it comes to exercising, helping to keep your core body temperature lower for longer.

On the other hand, if you’re cold, drinking hot water will help you stop shivering and maintain your core temperature. Drinking hot water can have other health benefits. As it heats the body, it will expand the blood vessels which will help to improve circulation and help to relax your muscles. If you’re drinking more water to help fill you up before a meal and raise your metabolism, then research has shown that hot water is more effective, by as much as 40% over a 40-minute period.

The benefits of staying hydrated

It doesn’t matter what the temperature of the water is, it’s important that your employees stay hydrated - whether that’s through bottled or tap water, flavoured waters, tea, coffee or milk, or eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. Studies have shown that even being mildly dehydrated has an adverse effect on mood and brain function, and more severe dehydration will raise the heart rate.

Here are some tips to help you drink more water throughout the day

• Give your water some flavour by adding in fruit or herbs. Try slices of cucumber of mint leaves.
• Drink a glass after every bathroom break. Keep the healthy cycle going and stay hydrated!
• Sip some water before every meal. We eat regularly so let’s drink water regularly too.
• Add ice cubes to keep your water cold for longer.
• Keep a jug of fresh water in the fridge and top it up throughout the day
• You might prefer drinking hot water instead of cold. Ask an adult to help you with boiling some fresh water and then add some cold water from the tap to bring the temperature down so it’s not too hot to drink.
• Eat foods that contain water. Did you know that cucumber, watermelon and grapefruit are all over 90% water?
• Get some reusable straws. Straws will help you drink more and drink faster.
• Get a reusable water bottle – and keep it nearby. Make sipping water a regular habit and refill when you’re running low.

At Castle Water, we give free, practical advice to help your business use less water to become more sustainable and reduce costs. Use our free online resources to engage with your staff and encourage cultural changes that result in less water being used.

Our Water Efficiency Guide is packed with easy and practical tips to help your business save water and money. Find your step-by-step guide here. You can also view more details about our business water services & business wastewater services, as well as how to switch to Castle Water.