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THE EXECUTIVE LIFE
DINING OUT	HEALTHY ADVICE	OFFICE UPGRADES

REFRESHING OFFICE WATER SOLUTION

BY MAHA EL-DAHAN

Nutritionists tell us to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day, more during the hot summer months. Tap water might seem the easiest solution, but the harsh chemicals in treated water are not only unpleasant to taste, they may be harmful to your long-term health. Business Monthly investigates some refreshing alternatives to tap water and the economics of water in the office.

Bottled water sales are at an all-time high with nearly a dozen brands of mineral water available on the market. While bottled water is a popular choice for homes, it may not be the best nor the cheapest solution for the office. A one-liter bottle of mineral sells for about £E 1.50, with a carton of 12 costing £E 18. To supply staff with bottled water means carting in heavy cartons on a daily basis. And if the staff insists on having their water chilled, it could require investing in a fridge able to handle each employee’s bottle.

The inconvenience of lugging around cartons of water on a daily basis has made water coolers a more appealing solution for office environments. The trend has led many beverage brand names to start providing the service.

Once installed, the water cooler’s housing unit holds about 19 liters of mineral water in a replaceable plastic bottle and can dispense both hot and cold water. Some units include an ice maker and a float switch for automatic shutoff when the bottle is empty.

Company representatives visit the office once a week or as necessary to replace empty water bottles – meaning nobody gets wet trying to replace the bulky water bottles. Replacement bottles cost about £E 12 to £E 18, making the average cost per liter just under £E 1 – cheaper than regular bottled water. Some brands, however, charge extra if clients go longer than a month without refilling their water coolers.

Nestlé, Aqua Delta and Bergen Industry (Aqua Mina water) offer high-quality water coolers for £E 1,000-1,400. It’s a highly competitive market, so big discounts and incentives are offered for first-time and multiple orders. Nestlé, for instance, offers two complimentary 19-liter water bottles and coupons for 30 more to all new owners of its water coolers.

Aqua Delta, on the other hand, allows clients to purchase their water coolers on an installment plan. After paying a £E 650 advance, you lease the water cooler and pay £E 100 every month for a year to pay it off. If you decide against it within that year, you can stop paying installments and the company will take it back.

Not all water bottles will fit all water coolers, though most offered here in Egypt are compatible. With that in mind, it is possible to purchase a generic water cooler from local department stores for as little as £E 450 and sign on for a refill service with another company. Unlike in the US, companies in Egypt cannot order their refill bottles online. But with business expanding and the number of customers growing, it is likely that enterprising companies will launch a similar order and delivery system in the near future.

If the water cooler option seems like too much of a commitment for your needs, then an inline water filter may be your ticket. Water filtration systems offer a cheap, efficient way to purify tap water of contaminants. They can be purchased at retail shops and installed manually on any tap – ideally one above a sink or catch pan – in just a matter of minutes.

Panasonic, Aqua-Pure and British Berkefeld filtration systems purify around 6.5 liters of water per minute with 95 percent efficiency (up to 5 microns). The units require an initial investment of £E 250 to £E 400, but once installed require only the occasional filter change. Replacement filter cartridges run about £E 75 and last about six months in most office situations.

For those who don’t like the taste of tap water even after purification, there is an easier way to maintain your daily supply of clean water. Water distillers connect to any water source then, over five stages, condense and evaporate the water to remove 100 percent of its contaminants and heavy metals. The end result is water every bit as clean and refreshing as bottled mineral water.

Purchasing a distillation unit, which requires a space about the size of a small stove, involves an upfront investment of about £E 1,500 for the equipment. The perk is that once installed, there are no water bottles to replace and maintenance is a breeze. Companies such as Union Aire and Aqua Misr offer a one-year warranty, but after that period the units may require maintenance or filter replacement at your expense.

Water coolers, filtration systems and distillation units can provide clean, refreshing water without the hassle of lugging around plastic water bottles. Whatever your office requirements, bear in mind the savings that these options accrue over time. An initial investment may help keep your company from pouring money down the drain.

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