Which Water Solution Is Right for You? A Mini Guide for Your Workplace

Choosing the right water dispenser for your workplace can feel overwhelming. With so many options on the market ranging from traditional water coolers to modern water taps, it’s hard to know which water solution is right for your business. The journey to hydration in the workplace begins with understanding your employees needs.

Research shows being as little as 2% dehydrated can seriously impact your teams attention, memory and psychomotor skills. We’ve all seen it. When your team is dehydrated productivity suffers, team morale drops, and the general working environment feels like a dark cloud is looming over it. The solution to this is simple. Your team needs easy access to water, and the right solution makes all the difference. This guide breaks down the options to make it easier for you to find your perfect water dispenser.

Remember those iconic office water coolers where everyone gathers for a chat. The classic water cooler moment is part of office culture for a reason, it’s where ideas are sparked, relationships are built, and teams connect… all while staying hydrated. There’s a reason these traditional water coolers are still around and Connect Vending has a wide range to suit different needs, from basic bottle-fed units to more sophisticated plumbed models with hot and cold options.

The Pros

Water coolers are the ultimate plug-and-play water solution. No plumbing required, just drop it in place, pop on a bottle, and you’re done. These coolers are perfect for temporary offices, hot-desking, or if you just want the flexibility to move your hydration station around. Plus, they’re budget-friendly upfront, making them ideal for start ups or smaller businesses testing the waters (pun intended).

The Cons

Here’s the thing: those 5-gallon bottles are heavy…really heavy. Yes, they’re flexible and cheap but someone’s got to lift those bottles when they need changing and that someone might throw their back out. Then you also need to find a way to recycle these bottles, find storage for the spare bottles, and work out a delivery schedule for replacements. This all takes up time that could be spent elsewhere. Then there’s the ongoing cost which add up faster than you’d think. Outside of the cost, there’s also hygiene to think about. These traditional bottle-fed water coolers use what is called reservoir technology, where water is stored inside the bottle rather than fed directly through the mains. Over time bacteria can build up and without proper sanitisation Legionella bacteria can build up.

Best For

Small offices (under 20 people), temporary workspaces, construction sites, and businesses wanting a low-commitment solution. If you’re a retail shop or small creative studio, a traditional water cooler might be your perfect match.

Are you on a sustainability path and want to ditch the bottles entirely? Fed up of organising weekly bottle deliveries and finding storage for those bulky bottles. A plumbed water dispensers might be a better option for your workplace. These water solutions fit directly to your main supply meaning you can get them installed and then job done, no more hassle for you just delicious fresh water.

The Pros

These water dispensers connect straight to your mains water supply, meaning unlimited water without the stress of changing the bottle. They eliminate plastic waste and bottle handling hassles, making them perfect for eco-conscious businesses. Connect Vending’s Borg and Overstrom range, for instance, offers sleek freestanding models that look seriously professional while delivering filtered, chilled water on demand.

The Cons

The upfront investment is higher than traditional coolers, and you’re committing to a fixed location (though that’s rarely an issue once you’ve found the perfect spot). But here’s the good news: Connect Vending handles the installation and takes care of filter changes for you, making it completely hassle-free. No coordinating with plumbers, no remembering maintenance schedules – we’ve got it covered.

Best For

Medium to large offices (20+ people), corporate environments, gyms, and any business serious about sustainability. Tech companies and professional services firms love these for their clean aesthetic and environmental credentials.

Water taps from Connect Vending are the Swiss Army knife of workplace hydration – compact, versatile, and impressively clever. Water taps are often thought about as the premium option that does everything. While a traditional cooler might dominate your breakroom and a kettle clutters up your valuable counter space, a water tap tucks away beneath your sink and delivers boiling, sparkling, ambient and chilled water from the faucet… and it looks good whilst doing it.

The Pros

Imagine getting instant boiling, chilled, sparkling, and ambient water from a single tap at your sink. With a modern water tap this dream becomes a reality. Billi’s under-bench systems take up 50% less space than traditional dispensers, tucking neatly under your counter while providing high quality fresh filtered water. No kettles cluttering your workspace, no bottles taking up floor space just sleek, instant hydration.

Connect Vending offers premium options like the Billi Quadra, which gives you four water types from one stylish tap. Want a cup of tea? Access instant boiling water at the touch of a button without having to wait for the kettle to boil. Need refreshment? Grab a cup of ice-cold filtered water. Fancy adding some bubbles to your day? Pour some sparkling water from your office water tap. Think of it this way: it’s like having a coffee shop, water bar, and drinks station all in one compact unit.

For those seeking cutting-edge technology, the Aqua Libra Illi tap offers exceptional performance with the capacity to dispense up to 90L of boiling water and 45L of chilled, sparkling, or ambient water per hour – perfect for high-demand environments.

The Cons

Water taps are a more permanent fixture. Once installed you can’t easily move them around like a freestanding cooler. You’re also mostly limited to installing them in office kitchens where you have sink access and under-counter space. The initial investment is higher than traditional coolers, but for businesses planning to stay put and wanting a premium solution, the convenience and space savings often justify the cost. Plus, Connect Vending handles the installation and ongoing filter maintenance, so it’s truly hassle-free once it’s in place.

Best For

Modern offices prioritising design, hospitality venues, healthcare facilities, high-end retail, and anywhere counter space is precious. Marketing agencies, design studios, and boutique offices absolutely love these for their wow factor.

Sometimes you just need hot water – lots of it, and fast. That’s where commercial water boilers come in.

The Pros

Water boilers are built for volume. They provide instant hot water for tea, coffee, instant meals, and more, serving high-capacity needs without breaking a sweat. Perfect for busy kitchens where multiple people need hot water simultaneously. Many models offer both hot and cold water options, giving you flexibility without requiring multiple units.

The Cons

They take up counter space and use more energy than cold-only solutions. Installation can be complex if you want plumbed models rather than fill-and-boil versions. And let’s be real if your team primarily wants cold drinking water, a boiler isn’t your best bet.

Best For

Large offices with serious tea/coffee cultures, schools, hospitals, care homes, and manufacturing facilities with breakrooms. Anywhere with 50+ people wanting hot beverages throughout the day.

Corporate Offices & Professional Services

Go for plumbed water dispensers or water taps. Your clients expect a certain level of sophistication, and these solutions deliver it while supporting sustainability initiatives. A Billi tap or Borg and Overstrom dispenser screams “we’ve got our act together.”

Retail & Hospitality

Water taps are your friend. Limited space behind the counter? Under-sink installation solves that. Need to impress customers? Offering premium filtered water (even sparkling!) elevates the experience. Plus, staff stay hydrated without cluttering valuable retail space.

Healthcare & Dental Practices

Hygiene is paramount, so touchless plumbed dispensers with UV purification are ideal. Water taps work brilliantly in staff areas, while waiting rooms benefit from freestanding filtered water dispensers that look professional and reassuring.

Construction & Industrial Sites

Traditional water coolers win here. Portable, durable, and no plumbing needed. You can move them around the site and they’ll survive the rough-and-tumble environment. Just stock up on those bottles.

Creative Agencies & Tech Startups

Make a statement with water taps. These businesses value design, innovation, and sustainability, exactly what modern Billi taps represent. The sparkling water function is brilliant for impressing clients during pitches, too.

Education & Training Centers

Depends on your size. Small training rooms? Traditional water coolers work fine. Full campus? Invest in multiple plumbed dispensers to handle high traffic. School kitchens and staff rooms benefit hugely from commercial water boilers for efficiency.

Here’s the truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best water dispenser for your workplace depends on:

Your team size – Under 20 people? Traditional coolers or compact taps. Over 50? You need the capacity of plumbed solutions.

Your space – Cramped kitchen? Water taps maximize every inch. Spacious breakroom? A feature water cooler or dispenser can work beautifully.

Your budget – Think beyond upfront costs. Those bottle deliveries add up, while plumbed systems often cost less long-term.

Your values – Serious about sustainability? Ditch the bottles. Want to impress clients? Invest in sleek water taps or premium Borg and Overstrom dispensers.

Your usage – Mainly cold drinking water? Standard dispensers are perfect. Need hot water too? Look at taps or boilers.

The Connect Vending Difference

At Connect Vending, we’re not just about dropping equipment on your doorstep and disappearing. We help you choose the right solution for your specific needs, handle professional installation, and provide ongoing maintenance so your team always has access to brilliant water.

Whether you’re after a classic water cooler, a sophisticated water tap, a reliable Borg and Overstrom dispenser, or a high-capacity commercial water boiler, we’ve got the expertise to guide you to the perfect choice. Browse our full range of water dispensers to see all your options.