by Fern Shaw | Sep 14, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
The British weather has many talents. Being predictable isn’t one of them.
One minute it’s sunny enough for sunglasses and the next you’re wondering where you left your jumper. As we head towards autumn the days may still be pleasantly mild but it’s also the time of year when thoughts turn from keeping everyone supplied with chilled drinking water to considering what happens when demand for hot water starts picking up again.
And there’s another seasonal change worth thinking about: schools are back.
From Chilled to Steaming Hot
A water dispenser doesn’t necessarily have to be about keeping things cold. As the seasons change so can the way people use their drinking water facilities.
A hot water boiler can be particularly useful as demand for hot drinks picks up. Rather than waiting for hot water to be heated when it’s needed, a mains-fed boiler provides hot water ready when required.
For larger workplaces or busy environments that can make a noticeable difference to the morning tea and coffee queue. And let’s be honest, when autumn arrives the queue can become surprisingly long.
Meanwhile, Back at School …
As schools return, classrooms, staff rooms, sports halls and canteens are busy again.
For schools the requirement is slightly different. It’s not just about having drinking water available. It’s about making it easy for pupils and staff to refill bottles and reach for water throughout a busy school day.
AquAid’s school hydration solutions include a range of drinking fountains and bottle-filling options designed with the school environment in mind. They can be installed indoors or outdoors depending on the requirements of the site with features designed to make everyday use straightforward.
So, while the weather forecast may be making its usual attempt to keep everyone guessing there’s a little more certainty when it comes to planning your water provision.
Now is a good time to look at what people need today and what they’re likely to need as the seasons change.
Because whether it’s a school welcoming back pupils or a workplace heading towards the cooler months a well-chosen water solution should be ready for whatever the weather decides to throw at us.
by Fern Shaw | Aug 11, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers
When someone mentions an elephant, what’s the first thing that springs to mind?
Perhaps it’s their extraordinary size, their ears, their trunks or their extraordinary intelligence. Whatever the answer, one thing is certain – elephants have fascinated us for centuries.
This World Elephant Day, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate these magnificent animals and the vital role they play in the natural world.
If there’s one thing elephants don’t do by halves, it’s drinking water. An adult elephant can consume between 95 and 190 litres every day and its trunk can hold around 10 litres at a time. Water isn’t simply something they enjoy – it’s essential to their survival and to the habitats they help sustain.
That makes them surprisingly fitting companions to what we do every day. While AquAid specialises in supplying fresh drinking water through workplace water coolers and water dispensers, our charitable giving helps support something rather different.
For many years, donations made to The Africa Trust have helped fund the installation of more than 10,000 Elephant Pumps across Africa.
No, they’re not quite as majestic as the animals that inspired their name and unfortunately, we can’t install either elephants or Elephant Pumps in your office! But the pumps do share a few impressive qualities with their namesakes – one in particular being longevity. Built to last for decades, these robust hand pumps provide reliable access to clean, safe drinking water for thousands of communities, helping transform everyday life one water well at a time.
Just as elephants are known as keystone species because they help shape and support the ecosystems around them, access to clean water helps communities flourish. Children spend less time collecting water, families enjoy healthier lives and opportunities begin to grow.
Sadly, elephants themselves face an uncertain future. African savannah elephants are endangered; African forest elephants are critically endangered and fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild. Protecting these remarkable animals also means protecting the habitats and water sources they depend upon.
So, whether you’re refilling your bottle at the office water cooler or simply pausing for a refreshing drink during the working day, spare a thought for one of nature’s true giants. We may never match an elephant’s thirst but we can all appreciate the importance of a reliable source of fresh drinking water.
Sources
World Elephant Day – Elephant Facts
The Africa Trust
by Fern Shaw | Aug 3, 2026 | Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
Some blog ideas come together instantly. Others require careful consideration. This one was a bit of a toss-up.
Yorkshire Day? International India Pale Ale Day? International Beer Day? How do you choose?
Then a novel idea struck. Why choose at all?
So, we’ve gone with all three into one blog. Reason being 1) it makes things a little more interesting and 2) if one topic falls flat (I’m looking in your direction, ale and beer), you’ll have another ready to rescue your next water cooler conversation. And while you’re topping up your water bottle or refilling your water glass, you might even learn something new. Bonus.
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
With so many themed days packed into the start of August, you’re spoilt for choice. There’s also Play Day, but we’ve already covered that one in a previous blog.
Yorkshire Day
If there’s one county that knows how to celebrate itself, it’s Yorkshire.
Held every beginning August, Yorkshire Day celebrates the history, culture and traditions of England’s largest historic county. Towns and cities across the region host civic events, parades, concerts and community celebrations, with a different location taking centre stage each year.
It’s a day filled with local pride, good humour and a healthy dose of Yorkshire spirit (or ale and beer).
International India Pale Ale Day
If your drink of choice contains a little more malt than mineral water, this one’s for you.
International India Pale Ale Day was created to bring together brewers, craft beer enthusiasts and bloggers in appreciation of one of Britain’s most recognisable beer styles.
Despite the name, India Pale Ale has its roots in England. Brewers increased the amount of hops used in the beer because hops acted as a natural preservative, helping it survive the long sea voyage to India during the days of the British Empire.
Who knew a practical shipping solution would end up creating one of the world’s favourite beer styles?
International Beer Day
As if one beer celebration wasn’t enough, International Beer Day follows immediately afterwards.
Founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California, it quickly became a worldwide celebration and, since 2012, has been held on the first Friday in August.
Beer itself, however, is much older.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of brewing dating back thousands of years, with recipes recorded on clay tablets from around 4300 BC and traces of beer found in pottery dating to approximately 3400 BC.
According to the organisers, there are three simple ways to celebrate:
- Get together with friends and enjoy a beer responsibly.
- Raise a glass to the brewers and servers who make it possible.
- Celebrate the incredible variety of beers enjoyed around the world.
Whether you’re raising a pint, celebrating Yorkshire or simply enjoying a refreshing glass of chilled water, there’s certainly no shortage of reasons to celebrate the start of August.
Sources
Yorkshire DayYorkshire Ridings Society
International India Pale Ale Day
International Beer Day
Encyclopaedia Britannica
by Fern Shaw | Jul 24, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
Every year World Nature Conservation Day shines a spotlight on the natural world and the role we all play in looking after it. From forests and rivers to wildlife and freshwater sources, healthy ecosystems support clean water, productive farmland and thriving communities.
It is also a timely reminder that conservation isn’t just about protecting nature for the future. It’s about making sensible choices today, using resources responsibly, reducing unnecessary waste and helping preserve the places and habitats we all depend on.
Looking Beyond the Workplace
Businesses and organisations can often make a bigger contribution than they realise. Small operational changes, when repeated every day across hundreds or thousands of workplaces, soon add up.
That might include:
- Reducing single-use plastics where practical
- Recycling responsibly
- Improving energy efficiency
- Choosing products and suppliers with environmental responsibility in mind
- Encouraging staff to adopt greener habits at work
No single action will solve every environmental challenge, but adopting better everyday practices is a positive place to start.
At AquAid, environmental responsibility sits alongside providing a wide range of high-quality water dispensers and delivering fresh bottled water to more than 40,000 customers across the UK. Through the charities we support, every bottle of water delivered and every water cooler installed helps fund projects that provide potable and productive water to communities in need. Using proven, long-established solutions, these initiatives have benefitted millions of people by delivering safe drinking water, irrigation and opportunities for communities to build stronger futures.
Everyday Choices Count
You don’t need to organise a major conservation project to support World Nature Conservation Day. Many of the most worthwhile actions fit easily into everyday life.
You could:
- Carry a reusable water bottle when you’re out and about
- Reduce unnecessary plastic waste
- Walk, cycle or share journeys where possible
- Switch off lights and electrical equipment when they’re not needed
- Join a local litter pick or community clean-up
- Support conservation groups or local wildlife initiatives
Individually these actions may seem modest, but when adopted by families, workplaces and communities, they contribute to healthier environments for everyone.
World Nature Conservation Day is a reminder that protecting natural resources is a shared responsibility. Whether it’s making thoughtful choices at home, encouraging positive habits at work or supporting projects that bring safe, reliable water to communities in need, every step helps build a healthier future for nature and the people who depend on it.
by Fern Shaw | Jul 6, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
If you’ve ever watched a game of tennis, you’ll know that calling advantage means you’re just one point away from winning the game.
When it comes to workplace hydration, installing an AquAid Water Cooler is a bit like that. It’s a simple decision that brings a whole host of advantages to your business, your staff and your visitors.
Advantage: Choice
Every workplace is different, which is why we offer a wide range of hydration solutions. Whether you’re looking for a bottled water dispenser, mains fed water coolers or affordable water fountains, we’ll help you find the right fit for your space and your team’s needs.
Advantage: Local Service
With 23 branches across the UK, there’s an AquAid team nearby to provide friendly, reliable local service backed by the strength of a national company. It’s the best of both worlds.
Advantage: Experience
We’ve spent 28 years helping businesses stay hydrated and now support more than 40,000 customers nationwide. From small offices to large organisations, we’ve built our reputation on dependable products and exceptional customer service.
Advantage: Hassle-Free Hydration
When you become an AquAid customer, keeping everyone hydrated couldn’t be easier.
- Free on-site surveys to recommend the right solution.
- Scheduled servicing and sanitisation, so you don’t have to remember.
- Simple, centralised billing, even across multiple locations.
- Reliable support from your local AquAid branch.
It’s hydration without the headaches.
Advantage: Wherever People Gather
Water coolers aren’t just for offices. They’re equally at home in tennis clubs, sports clubs, golf driving ranges, leisure facilities, gyms, schools and community venues – anywhere people need easy access to refreshing drinking water.
Advantage: Making a Difference
Choosing AquAid benefits more than just your organisation. Every bottle of water purchased and every mainsfed water dispenser installed helps support the charitable projects we fund, creating access to safe water for thousands of communities.
Game, Set and Match
Whether you’re looking to improve workplace wellbeing, create a better experience for customers and visitors or simply provide convenient access to refreshing drinking water, installing an AquAid Water Cooler is an advantage that’s hard to beat.
by Fern Shaw | Jun 15, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
Water is one of those things we rarely think about until we’re thirsty. Yet the more you learn about it, the more interesting it becomes.
So, next time you’re standing by the water cooler refilling your water bottle or water glass, here are seven fascinating facts you can present to your workmates.
- Water can taste a little different depending on the source
Ever noticed that water tastes slightly different when you’re away from home?
That’s because water naturally picks up minerals as it travels through rocks and soil. Areas with higher levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium can produce water with a subtly different flavour profile.
Better still, AquAid water is sourced from four carefully selected locations across the UK, so wherever your location, you can count on a consistently refreshing glass of water from your cooler.
- The weight you lose after exercise is mostly water
We’ve all felt pleased after seeing the scales move following a gym session. However, most of that immediate weight loss is actually water lost through sweat and breathing.
It’s one of the reasons rehydrating after exercise is so important.
- Water is the ultimate dissolver
Water dissolves more substances than any other naturally occurring liquid on Earth.
It’s this remarkable property that allows it to transport nutrients, minerals and oxygen around the body, helping everything function as it should.
- Cold water can taste more refreshing than warm water
Ever wondered why a chilled glass of water often seems more satisfying than one at room temperature?
Temperature can influence the way we experience flavour. Colder water suppresses certain tastes and odours, which can make it seem cleaner and more refreshing. It’s also one of the reasons many people prefer their drinking water nicely chilled.
Of course, whether you like your water icy cold or at room temperature is a matter of personal preference but there’s some science behind why that cold glass often hits the spot.
- Hot water can freeze faster than cold water
This one sounds made up but under certain conditions it can actually happen.
Known as the Mpemba Effect, the phenomenon has intrigued scientists for decades and remains one of water’s more surprising quirks.
- You can drink too much water
It sounds unlikely, but drinking excessive amounts of water in a very short period can dilute sodium levels in the blood.
Known as hyponatraemia, this condition is rare and is most commonly associated with endurance events where athletes consume large quantities of water over several hours.
- Water is stronger than it looks
Water molecules naturally stick together, creating what’s known as surface tension. It’s one of the reasons water can move through incredibly tiny blood vessels, helping transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Not bad for a simple glass of water.
A water filled conclusion
I was familiar with some of these facts already but the last one still amazes me. The idea that water can travel through incredibly small vessels, helping carry oxygen and nutrients around the body, is extraordinary when you stop and think about it. It happens every second of every day, yet most of us only think about water when we’re thirsty.
Want to get on the right track to fitness and health? Know you’re not drinking enough water every day?
Contact AquAid. We’d be pleased to help with all your water cooler dispenser requirements – keeping you water fit and hydrated, rain or shine.
Sources
NHS – Water, drinks and hydration
British Nutrition Foundation – Hydration
Drinking Water Inspectorate (UK)
Royal Society of Chemistry – The Mpemba Effect
AquAid – Our Water
Institute of Food Technologists – How Temperature Affects Taste
