Elkay vs Celli: Which Bottle Filling Station Is Right for Your Project?

Elkay vs Celli is a comparison between two different kinds of product. Celli is an Italian beverage dispensing manufacturer whose water range is built by Cosmetal under the Acqua Alma brand, while Elkay builds hydration fixtures installed into a building. This guide sets out where each one wins.

Elkay vs Celli at a Glance

Where the two overlap, and where each offers something the other does not attempt. Both catalogues are broad and specifications vary by model, so treat this as a shortlist filter rather than a datasheet.

At a glance Elkay Celli
Chilled filtered drinking water ✓ ✓
Touch-free sensor dispensing ✓ ✓
Grade 304 stainless steel construction ✓ ✓
Suitable for schools, gyms and public buildings ✓ ✓
Filter monitoring of some kind ✓ ✓
NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 certification published at model level ✓ ~
WRAS approval documented across the UK range ✓ ~
Bottle-count display on the unit itself ✓ ~
Certified microplastic and PFAS reduction options ✓ ✕
Designed for in-wall recessed installation ✓ ✕
Outdoor and vandal-resistant models ✓ ✕
316 marine-grade stainless option ✓ ✕
Mains-free mechanical model ✓ ✕
Retrofit kit to upgrade an existing fountain ✓ ✕
Single UK and EU distributor for supply, parts and servicing ✓ ✕
Sparkling and carbonated water ✕ ✓
Cloud telemetry for remote fleet monitoring ✕ ✓

Elkay

Supplied & Supported by WRG

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, USA. Distributed, stocked and serviced throughout the UK and EU by Water Refill Group. Built as a permanent building fixture rather than an appliance, with WRAS approval across the range and genuine spares held here in Britain.

  • Manufacturer: Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, USA
  • UK & EU supply: exclusive WRG distribution, stock held in Buckinghamshire & Tilburg
  • Filtration: WaterSentry Plus / VII, front-access quarter-turn cartridge, fitted as standard across the ezH2O range
  • Certification: NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 published at model level (model dependent)
  • WRAS approved across the UK range, with certification supplied for your specification pack
  • Activation: sensor-activated bottle filler with automatic 20-second shut-off
  • Monitoring: filter-life status lights on the unit, plus Green Ticker™ counting single-use plastic bottles saved
  • Parts & servicing: genuine Elkay parts and filters in UK stock, with Smart, Gold and Silver service plans
  • Water types: chilled and ambient refill only. For sparkling or boiling, see our separate boiling and sparkling tap range.
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Celli

For Comparison

Celli Group is an Italian beverage dispensing manufacturer of around fifty years standing, with plants across Italy, the UK, France and Spain. Its water range is built by Cosmetal and sold under the Acqua Alma brand. Water Refill Group does not supply Celli and includes the brand here so the comparison is a fair one.

  • Manufacturer: Celli Group, Italy. Water range built by Cosmetal under the Acqua Alma brand
  • UK supply: sold through a network of independent water cooler dealers rather than one national distributor
  • Filtration: specified per installation by the supplying dealer, with UV treatment offered on selected Niagara Top models
  • Certification: request the cartridge certification for your exact model, as it is not published at range level
  • WRAS: confirm approval status per model with the dealer supplying the unit
  • Activation: manual switch, electronic control, foot pedal or contactless sensor, depending on the model
  • Monitoring: Intelliwater telemetry reports system status, temperature and carbonation remotely
  • Parts & servicing: handled by whichever dealer supplied the equipment, so coverage varies by region
  • Water types: ambient, chilled, sparkling and hot, with up to 120 litres per hour on the Niagara range
Ask Us to Compare
Application Chilled filtered combi In-wall recessed Accessible cooler Slim surface-mount High-output canteen Sparkling and hot Under-counter with tap Outdoor pedestal Outdoor wall-mounted Retrofit filler kit
Elkay model ezH2OLZO8WSS2KN ezH2O In-WallLZWSM82K ezH2O ADA CoolerLMABF8WSS2KN ezH2O Surface-MountEZWSSMJO No direct equivalent Not offered in the ezH2O range No direct equivalent Outdoor PedestalLK4400BFEVGWR Outdoor Single-ArmLK4405BFEVG ezH2O Retrofit Kit
Closest Celli equivalent RiverWall or floor standing Not offered Not offered as a building fixture Hi Class TopOr J-Class Top Niagara FS 120Or Niagara Top 120 Niagara WGOr Pro Stream J-Class INWith Drink Tower or G400 tap Not offered Not offered Not offered
Chilled ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ – – –
Sparkling – – – ~ ~ ✓ ✓ – – –
Touch-free ~ – – ~ ~ ~ – – – –
Best suited to The default UK school and office refill point Flush fit-outs; needs a recess formed early in the programme Healthcare and quiet spaces; check approach and reach against Part M Tight-plan interiors and breakout areas Canteens and factories where demand arrives all at once Hospitality, hotels and front-of-house service points Bars and restaurants where only the tap should be visible Parks and exposed sites; 316 marine-grade stainless Constrained external walls and high-turnover areas Upgrading a sound existing Elkay fountain
Elkay vs Celli: Common Questions About Elkay

What specifiers ask when the shortlist has an Italian dispensing brand on it alongside a building fixture.

No, and this is the clearest gap in the comparison. The ezH2O range dispenses chilled and ambient still water only. If sparkling is a requirement for your project, Celli will serve it directly from the same unit and Elkay will not. We supply boiling and sparkling separately through our boiling and sparkling tap range, which is often the better arrangement anyway, since a tap at a kitchen or servery point and a refill station in a corridor are answering two different needs.
Everything to do with being part of the building. In-wall recessed installation, outdoor pedestals and wall units in 316 marine-grade stainless, vandal-resistant detailing, a mains-free mechanical option and retrofit kits for existing fountains. Add to that WRAS documentation across the range and NSF/ANSI certification published at model level, which is what a specification pack needs at RIBA Stage 4. Celli builds excellent appliances, but they are appliances.
Celli wins comfortably on paper. An ezH2O delivers around 30 litres of chilled water an hour, while a Niagara on ice bank reaches 120 litres an hour with sustained continuous flow. That matters enormously at a canteen counter at midday and barely at all on a school corridor, where a queue of one or two is the norm and the constraint is dispense speed per bottle rather than hourly capacity. Match the figure to the actual demand pattern.
Often, yes. An ezH2O retrofit kit adds bottle filling to a suitable existing fountain without full replacement or a new first fix. The kits are chassis-specific and designed around Elkay units, so what is possible depends on what is already on the wall. Send us a photo and a model number and we will tell you either way.
We do. Water Refill Group is Elkay's exclusive UK and EU distributor, with stock in Buckinghamshire and Tilburg. One contact covers pricing, technical data, WRAS documentation, installation and aftercare, with genuine parts from UK stock and Smart, Gold or Silver plans for planned servicing. Celli equipment reaches the UK through independent dealers, so the quality of your aftercare depends a good deal on which one you buy from.
Elkay vs Celli: Common Questions About Celli

We don't supply Celli, and we would rather answer these straight than pretend a capable European manufacturer isn't there.

No. We are Elkay's exclusive UK and EU distributor and supply the Elkay range only. Celli is here because it is a real alternative and a strong one in its own territory. If you have been handed a Celli schedule we can identify the nearest Elkay equivalent, and where the Celli unit is the better fit we will say so.
Whenever the brief is closer to hospitality than to building services. Choose Celli if you need sparkling or hot water from the same point, if throughput above 100 litres an hour is a genuine requirement, if the installation is a bar or restaurant where only a designer tap should be visible above the counter, if you want remote telemetry across a fleet of units, or if flavour and mineral customisation is part of the offer. None of that is territory Elkay competes in.
Confirm it per model with the dealer supplying the unit. Approval is not published consistently at range level, and an approval that covers one component is not the same as one covering the assembly as installed. Ask for the number against your exact model reference and get it into the specification pack early rather than resolving it on site. The same discipline applies to any brand, ours included.
A carbonated system adds a CO2 supply to manage, which means cylinder changes, storage and someone responsible for both. Ice bank systems also need the bank filled before power is applied, since running one dry will destroy the chilling unit. Neither is difficult, but both are ongoing commitments that a still-water refill point does not carry, and they are worth costing before the decision rather than after.
Yes. Send the schedule, drawings or model references and we will return the nearest Elkay equivalent by function, the WRAS documentation and a costed comparison. Be aware that if the specification includes sparkling or hot water there is no straight swap, and we will tell you that rather than quote something that does not do the job.
What we compared Elkay WaterSentry Celli / Cosmetal Simple verdict
Typical filter WaterSentry 51300C Specified per installation by the supplying dealer. Ask which cartridge is actually being fitted to your unit.
How the filter works Uses activated carbon and a prefilter to improve taste and reduce contaminants. Carbon filtration, with a patented UV system offered on selected Niagara Top models. Different approaches: chemical reduction against optical disinfection.
Published certification Certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53. The 51300C is also certified to NSF/ANSI 401. Not published at range level, as filtration is a dealer-specified item. Elkay wins: the certification arrives with the unit, not after a phone call.
Lead reduction ✓ Certified to reduce lead Depends entirely on the cartridge selected. Elkay wins: certified performance is a range standard.
Chlorine, taste and odour ✓ Improves taste and reduces chlorine odour ✓ Carbon filtration addresses taste and odour Draw: both improve how the water tastes.
Microplastic reduction Selected WaterSentry filters are specifically certified to reduce microplastics. Not listed on the published specification. Elkay wins: choose Elkay if microplastics are a stated priority.
PFAS reduction Dedicated Elkay filters are available for certified PFAS reduction. 71300C reduces PFOA and PFOS Not listed on the published specification. Elkay wins: fit the correct PFAS-rated cartridge.
UV disinfection Not offered on the ezH2O range. A patented UV system features on selected Niagara Top models. Celli wins: useful where microbial control is the concern.
Standard filter capacity 3,000 gallons Approximately 11,356 litres Varies with the cartridge the dealer specifies. Elkay is more predictable: a known figure to budget against.
High-capacity filters Compatible options range from 6,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons on selected systems. Determined by the filtration package chosen at order. Elkay wins: published options for high-traffic locations.
Changing the filter A quick quarter-turn connection makes the filter easy to remove and replace. Varies by model and by the filter housing the dealer installs. Check the install: access differs considerably across Celli configurations.
Filter status and monitoring Compatible stations show on the unit when the filter is working or needs replacing. Intelliwater telemetry reports status remotely across a fleet of units. Celli wins on scale: remote visibility beats a light on a wall for large estates.
Can the filters be swapped? Elkay filters must be matched to a compatible Elkay station. Cartridges must be matched to the housing fitted to your unit. No: never cross-fit cartridges between the two.
Best choice for Projects that need documented contaminant reduction in the specification pack. Estates wanting remote oversight, and sites where UV treatment is specified. It depends: on whether you need certification on paper or visibility on a dashboard.
Overall winner Certified, documented and consistent across every unit in the range. Flexible and remotely monitored, but specified case by case. Elkay wins on documentation, while Celli wins on fleet-scale visibility.

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Why Choose Us?

Exclusive UK Elkay Partner

We’re proud to be the exclusive authorised partner for Elkay bottle filling stations in the UK. That means direct access to genuine parts, faster support, and expert knowledge you won’t find anywhere else. When it comes to Elkay, we’re the people to trust.

Approved & Accredited Technicians

All of our engineers are fully vetted, trained, and approved to service Elkay and other leading hydration systems. You can count on consistent service quality, full compliance, and peace of mind with every visit.

Fast Response Times

When issues arise, we’re ready. With nationwide coverage and priority call-out availability, we’re structured to respond quickly and efficiently - helping you minimise disruption and keep your refill points flowing.
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Maintenance, Parts and Expected Downtime: Elkay vs Celli

A still-water refill point and a carbonated dispensing appliance carry very different maintenance burdens, and the gap widens with every extra function the unit performs. Before choosing between Elkay and Celli, work out how many systems a fault could involve, who holds the parts, and who is contracted to attend when something stops working.

What we compared Elkay Celli What this means for you
Routine maintenance Regular cleaning, sanitisation, filter changes and safety checks are recommended. The same, with additional attention to the carbonator and ice bank on applicable models. Celli asks more: more functions mean more to check on each visit.
Filter replacement Uses a quick-disconnect cartridge with a quarter-turn connection and automatic water shut-off. Depends on the filter housing the supplying dealer installed. Elkay is consistent: the same procedure on every unit in the estate.
CO2 supply management Not applicable, as no carbonation system is fitted. Sparkling models need cylinder changes, safe storage and a named responsible person. Cost it upfront: this is an ongoing commitment, not a one-off.
Ice bank precautions Not applicable to direct-chill units. The bank must be filled before power is applied, or the chilling unit will fail. Brief the installer: this is a common and expensive commissioning error.
Filter-change alerts Compatible stations use coloured status lights to show when the filter is nearing the end of its life. Filter status is reported through the Intelliwater platform rather than on the unit. Different audiences: a caretaker sees a light, a facilities manager sees a dashboard.
Remote diagnostics Selected enhanced ezH2O models display system alerts on the unit itself. Intelliwater reports status, temperature and carbonation across the estate remotely. Celli wins: genuine fleet-level oversight without a site visit.
Access to internal components Access varies by model. Enhanced units with drop-down panels make service components easier to reach. Under-counter units need the cabinet opened, and remote installations can be awkward to reach. Check the install: a hidden chiller is tidy until someone has to service it.
Replacement filters Water Refill Group holds genuine Elkay filters in UK stock for the models it supplies. Held by the supplying dealer, so availability depends on who you bought from. Elkay is more predictable: one stockholding rather than many.
Replacement parts Genuine Elkay parts are available through Water Refill Group's UK and EU supply network. Sourced through the dealer network, with lead times varying by region and model. Ask before ordering: confirm which parts your dealer physically holds.
UK servicing Installation, planned servicing, filter changes and repair support all through one provider. Coverage depends entirely on the dealer who supplied and maintains the equipment. Elkay is more contained: supply, parts and labour sit in one place.
Warranty Selected refrigerated models include five-year refrigeration cover and 12-month cover for electrical and water-system components. Terms are set by the supplying dealer and should be confirmed in writing. Get it in the order: dealer-set terms vary more than manufacturer terms.
Planned maintenance downtime Filter changes and routine servicing complete within a planned maintenance visit. Comparable, though sparkling models add carbonator checks to the visit. Usually low for both: a short interruption either way.
Refrigeration and carbonation faults A compressor or sealed refrigeration fault needs a qualified engineer. The same, plus carbonator faults that take sparkling offline while still water continues. Celli degrades more gracefully: losing sparkling is not losing the unit.
Best option for multiple sites Estates wanting one UK contact for equipment, filters, parts and planned servicing. Estates wanting remote visibility and willing to manage a dealer relationship for it. Match it to your team: single contact against dashboard oversight.
Overall verdict Fewer systems, one supplier, and documentation that arrives with the unit. More capability and better remote oversight, with more to maintain and a dealer to choose carefully. Neither is universally better: specify Elkay for durable refill points across a building, and Celli where sparkling, hot water or high throughput is the actual requirement.

How can you reduce bottle filling station downtime?

Whichever way the decision falls, downtime is driven by preparation rather than badge. Arrange planned servicing, keep the right cartridge and common wear parts on the shelf, and standardise models across an estate so your team is not juggling several filter types and service procedures.

Before ordering, ask which parts are physically held in the UK, whether engineers cover your postcode, what response time is committed to and what the warranty excludes. If the unit carbonates, add a question about who supplies and changes the CO2.

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