Businesses, schools, healthcare organisations and public venues are changing the way they provide drinking water. Single-use plastics and bottled water deliveries are no longer favoured or environmentally friendly. Not only do they come with a hefty price tag, they’re bad for the planet.

Investing in a bottle filling station could be the solution.

But are bottle filling stations really worth it? It depends on a few factors, and which is more important to you as the buyer.

• The Environmental Impact

• The Economic Value

• Societal Benefits

• Water Quality Improvements

The Environmental Impact

Eliminate Single-Use Plastic Waste

Firstly, water bottle filling stations allow organisations to dramatically reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. Every minute of every day, 1 million plastic bottles are bought around the world. That’s over 500 billion plastic bottles every year.

In total, only around 9% of all plastic waste ever created has been recycled. The rest is either burnt, buried in landfill or polluting the natural world.

Installing a water bottle filling station will naturally encourage the use of reusable bottles and help your organisation tackle plastic waste head on. Many systems - including Elkay Water Bottle Filling Stations - come with integrated bottle counters that track how many single-use bottles have been avoided.

You could switch out just one frequently used bottled water cooler and avoid tens of thousands of plastic bottles each year.

Dramatically Reduce Carbon Footprint

You might not realise it, but bottled water has a large carbon footprint. Compared to tap water, bottled water’s carbon impact can be up to 1,000 times worse due to:

• Plastic production (oil/petroleum is made from fossil fuels)

• Transportation / Distribution distances

• Refrigeration / Storage energy usage

• Waste processing

As water bottle filling stations are plumbed directly into mains water supplies, there’s no need for transportation from far-away water sources. There’s also less packaging waste going into landfill. For organisations looking to hit net-zero or ESG goals, replacing bottled water with mains-fed water solutions is a simple way to measurably decrease emissions.

Hydration stations like Elkay bottle filling stations, available from Water Refill Group, are built with sustainability and high-volume usage in mind, without sacrificing energy efficiency or hygiene.

Improve ESG & Sustainability Goals

Publicly displayed sustainability reporting is on the rise. By measuring your plastic usage and general waste, you can quantify how much better for the environment your organisation is becoming.

Installing an accessible water refill station demonstrates to employees, customers and visitors that your business cares about single-use plastic pollution. It’s one thing to mention sustainability policies in a yearly meeting. It’s another to visibly show you’re putting positive changes into action with professionally installed hydration infrastructure.

Explore our full Bottle Filling Station range to see WRAS compliant, sustainable options suitable for schools, offices and healthcare environments.

The Economic Value

It’s not all about saving the planet. While the environmental benefits are clear, investing in a water bottle filling station is also a practical financial decision.

Reduce Operating Costs

Buying bottled water for the office or school can cost hundreds, if not thousands of pounds per year. Over five years, that wasted spend can vastly exceed the price of a bottle filler station. Tap water in the UK costs roughly £0.0053 per litre. Investing in a bottle filling station and filtering the water yourself can save money in the long run.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes can find a hydration solution that saves them money long term within the Water Refill Group product range.

 

Save Space & Logistics Time

Ordering bottled water comes with extra hassles. You’ll need space to store it, handle deliveries and monitor stock levels.By installing a bottle filling station, you can free up valuable storage space and eliminate the time spent managing deliveries.

For larger organisations such as educational institutions or NHS facilities, these logistics can cost a significant amount of money.

Improved Water Quality & Taste

It doesn’t stop at sustainability and financial benefits. Another huge advantage of modern water bottle filling stations is improved water quality.

Filtered Water Means Fewer Contaminants

Tap water isn’t subject to the same point-of-use filtration as many bottle filling stations. Most commercial systems use advanced filtration to help:

• Remove chlorine taste and smell

• Filter out sediment

• Reduce heavy metals

• Trap microplastics

Our filtered options from Water Refill Group undergo commercial-grade filtration, helping you provide cleaner, better-tasting water.

Improve Water Taste

The taste of water matters. From chlorine content to stagnation - unpleasant tasting water can discourage hydration.With improved taste and zero smell, bottle filling stations encourage better hydration.

Better hydration in the workplace or classroom has been shown to improve:

• Concentration levels

• Productivity

• Reduced tiredness

• General wellbeing

When water doesn’t taste like chlorine or cardboard, people are more likely to drink it.

Less Chance of Bottle Contamination

Traditional water cooler jugs can introduce risks such as:

• Human contact when pouring or replacing bottles

• Open exposure when swapping bottles

• Dust collecting inside stored bottles

By opting for a touchless Elkay Water Bottle Filling Station, you limit human contact and eliminate stored bottle risks. This improves hygiene standards - particularly important for healthcare environments and schools.

The Societal Benefits

Hydration is Healthier

Studies show that when water is accessible, people are more likely to drink it.Providing free water improves public health and may even reduce sugary drink consumption.

Everyone Deserves Free Water

As the cost of living continues to rise, free drinking water should be accessible. Water bottle filling stations allow visitors to public buildings to access water without purchasing single-use plastic.

It’s the Right Thing to Do

Customers care about the environment. We see it in surveys and public demand for sustainability. Installing a water bottle filling station shows you’re taking responsibility.

And if you require compliant, WRAS-approved hydration solutions, Water Refill Group can help you choose the right system for your building.

Water Bottle Filling Stations: The Bigger Picture

Each year the bottled water market grows - but so does awareness of plastic pollution and climate change.

Local governments, educational institutions and large companies are being asked to:

• Reduce Waste

• Lower Carbon Emissions

• Improve Building Standards

• Take Care of Public Health

Water bottle filling stations can:

• Help you save thousands of bottles per year

• Lower emissions caused by plastic production and transport

• Save money long-term

• Improve tap water taste by reducing contaminants

• Maintain touchless hygiene practices

• Boost ESG performance

Water bottle filling stations are more than just a convenience. They allow your organisation to join the movement towards a healthier, more sustainable world.

But, Are Bottle Fillers Worth It?

When measured against environmental impact, long-term cost savings, improved water quality and public health benefits, water bottle filling stations offer clear, evidence-based value.

Organisations can reduce single-use plastic waste, lower carbon emissions linked to bottled water and significantly cut ongoing supply costs.

High-quality systems such as Elkay, are designed for commercial environments, with durable construction, touchless operation and integrated bottle counters to help track environmental impact.

Whether you manage a school, workplace, healthcare facility or leisure centre, they’re a smart, future-proof investment.

Explore our range of Elkay Bottle Filling Stations or visit our Contact Us page to speak with an expert today.