What’s growing in your water cooler this summer?

Loving this warmer weather? So is the bacteria in your water cooler! Now’s the perfect time to service your water cooler and change your filters to keep your water safe.

Why you should take your water seriously

It doesn’t matter where you live, whether you get your water from council mains, from a tank or a water cooler, it’s crucial that you know your water is safe for drinking.

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen an increase in outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as cryptosporidium from council water supplies. But your workplace water cooler can also be a breeding ground for nasties if you neglect to service it and change your filters regularly.

How often do I need to service my water cooler?

Water coolers should be serviced every three to six months. It’s important to make sure your water cooler is thoroughly cleaned including removing taps, flushing them out and changing filters. Find out what’s involved in our step-by-step Water Cooler Servicing and make sure you’re not putting yourself and others at risk with contaminated drinking water.

As soon as water touches any surface it starts to grow bacteria. If you have a bottle top water cooler, dust and other impurities can enter the cooler each time you replace the bottle. If water sits stagnant for a period of time, it can start to grow all sorts of nasties. This is especially common over the Christmas holiday period as less people are in the workplace and if an office is closed down for a period of time it’s essential to keep your water cooler safe.

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How often should I change the filters on my water cooler?

A lot of people don’t realise that their water coolers have filters attached to them which filter out all the impurities to make sure the water is safe for drinking. The quality of your filtered water is only as good as the filters the water passes through and filters need to be changed as per manufacturer’s guidelines – either after a length of time or after a certain number of litres have passed through. It’s just like how your car needs servicing after a certain period of time or number of kilometres.

Want some extra protection from the sun?

If possible, make sure your water cooler is positioned away from direct sunlight – this will help keep your water temperature down and help reduce bacteria breeding. Another option is to use a water cooler cover – not only will it protect it from the sun but will help stop dust and dirt from making its way into the water bottle.