by Fern Shaw | Aug 11, 2025 | water cooler, Water Coolers
International Youth Day is all about recognising the vital role young people play in shaping a better, fairer future. This year’s theme: Local Youth Actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Beyond – puts a spotlight on the power of youth to turn big global ideas into real, local change.*
With over half the world’s population under thirty and youth set to make up the majority of the workforce by 2050, there’s no doubt: young people are the future. They bring fresh ideas, energy and strong community connections – all key to making progress on everything from climate action to gender equality.
But to build this better future, young people need the basics. And that starts with something as simple – and essential – as clean water.
Why Clean Water Matters for Youth
It might not sound revolutionary, but access to a safe, reliable water source can transform young lives, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Health & Well-being: Clean water means fewer diseases and better overall health, so young people can grow, learn and thrive.
Time for Education: In many communities, young people (especially girls) spend hours every day fetching water. A local water source gives them that time back – time they can spend in school, building their future.
Growing Futures: Access to water lets youth tend to crops or small gardens. These can be sold or used to feed their families, helping them develop trade skills and even start small businesses.
Skills for Life: Whether it’s farming, selling produce, or managing water systems, these experiences help young people gain practical, sustainable skills that benefit their families and wider communities.
Local Action, Global Impact
When we invest in basic needs like water, we’re not just meeting today’s challenges – we’re empowering tomorrow’s leaders. Youth aren’t just the face of the future; they’re the hands shaping it now.
It may seem that something as simple as installing a water cooler has little connection to empowering young people – but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
This International Youth Day let’s remember tremendous change often starts with something small: like a tap that works, a school that’s accessible, or a child who no longer must walk miles for water.
These are just a few of the reasons that, here at AquAid, we continue to support vital work that brings clean, safe drinking water to communities where it’s most needed. By partnering with dedicated charities and helping fund sustainable water projects, the impact goes well beyond the workplace – helping to create the foundations for healthier, more resilient futures.
Because when water flows, so does opportunity.
*source: United Nations – International Youth Day
by Fern Shaw | Aug 7, 2025 | water cooler, Water Coolers
Cycle to Work Day is here and across the UK, many people are choosing to cycle instead of relying on their usual commute. Whether you’re a daily cyclist or a one-off rider giving it a go, there’s no denying the perks – fresher air, better fitness and a happier headspace.
But cycling can be thirsty work. So, before you hop on your bike, make sure you have your hydration plan sorted. A quick sip from your bottled water isn’t always enough – especially if your route is longer or the weather’s warm.
If your workplace has a water cooler, you’re in luck. That post-ride refresh is just a few steps away. Even better if there are chilled options – because nothing quite hits like cool water after a morning pedal.
Cycling + hydration benefits:
- Boosts energy and focus post-ride
- Helps with muscle recovery
- Keeps your body temperature regulated
Don’t forget to replenish water levels regularly – not just once you arrive but throughout the day. It’s the secret to feeling energised and staying productive.
So, gear up, grab your water bottle and start pedalling. Your body, mind (and the planet) will thank you – and your post-ride energy might just rub off on all your workmates too.
by Fern Shaw | Aug 6, 2025 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
Celebrated on the first Wednesday of August every year, Playday is all about giving children the chance to get outside, explore and just be children. From park parties to woodland adventures, it’s a brilliant reminder of how important play is for development and fun. But with all that running, climbing and jumping around, staying refreshed is just as important as the play itself.
One thing often overlooked during active days like this? Drinking water.
Parents, organisers & carers – here’s your checklist:
Sunscreen? ✅
Snacks? ✅
Enough water for the day? ✅ Hopefully.
If you’re organising a community event, don’t forget to ensure there is access to a central water dispenser or a watercooler station. It’s a small setup with a big impact. When the little ones are dashing about, it’s crucial they’re stopping now and then to replenish water levels. A couple of easy-to-spot water fountains dotted around the space can also make a real difference, giving children quick access to a refreshing drink without having to stray too far from the fun.
Top tip:
Make it fun! Label their water cooler bottle with names, use colourful cups, or even set up a ‘hydration station’ with a playful theme. You’ll be surprised how much more water children will drink when it’s part of the game.
Play hard. Drink water. Repeat.
by Fern Shaw | Jul 30, 2025 | water cooler, Water Coolers
As a blogista, one would imagine that I love the internet or the worldwide web. You’d be right. It’s packed to capacity with the most incredible information and makes research interesting, amusing, at times alarming and can turn one into a sniffer dog that any contraband sniffing beagle would envy – (all those leads!)
Some time ago, I read one of what I call, Snopes-worthy-at-a-glance chain *shudder* mails. Recently, while researching, I came across another take on the ice-cold water debate, one I hadn’t heard of before.
The First Drinking Ice Water Theory I read is that if you are all hot and bothered and need to cool down, instead of chug-a-lugging litres of brain freezingly cold water, you should rather drink room temperature water (which is disingenuous, because what if your ‘room’ at the time is an Arctic wasteland? Hmf!). The reason for this is that your body works hard to regulate your ‘core’ temperature. Picture the scene:
You’ve just vaulted up two flights of stairs wearing your spencer and Ugg boots. You get to the landing, leopard crawl down the corridor, reach your water dispenser station, roll onto your back underneath the water cooler, open the tap, a steady stream of water from source pouring refreshingly down your gullet. Now your body is hot. The water is cold. So, whereas you are hydrating your body, which is what your body is asking for, your body now must work double time to ‘heat up’ the water to your core temperature, which is baaad. Or so the chain mail said. I am, (of course), paraphrasing (a lot). I think, for this next one, I don’t have to draw a scenario for you.
The Second Drinking Ice Water Theory is just plain funny – ha ha and peculiar. According to this zinger and I’m quoting, “Drinking Ice Water after a meal … will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. Once this ‘sludge’ reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food.”
Anyhow, so of the two, which is absolute Hogwarts (sorry!) hogwash and which, if any, of the two, have an element of truth in them? I believe the answer to both is a ‘what’s good for you coupled with common sense’ thought process.
Personally I tend to believe the first theory – if our bodies are ‘normally’ at about 37C° and you’ve exerted yourself which means that your body temperature us higher; then with ice water being around 0C°, it would make sense that your body has to work harder to regulate the temperature of the cold water to, rather ironically, cool you down.
So, on this, I’d suggest that if you do decide to Rocky it up the stairs, dressed like Bradley Cooper in The Silver Linings Playbook, for reasons known only to you; by all means perch next to the water cooler, just don’t guzzle. Pour yourself a cup of cool water and drink it slowly.
As for the ‘sludge’ that ice water turns ‘the oily stuff’ into theory, I truly, for once, don’t have a comeback for this marvel of silly.
Keen on having chilled, cool, ambient temperature or even piping hot water available immediately? You need look no further than the UK’s leading water cooler supplier: AquAid. You’re welcome. Drink up!
by Fern Shaw | Jul 30, 2025 | Health and Hydration, water cooler, Water Coolers
Staying properly hydrated ensures that all of your bodily functions are … well … functioning. You can only go three days or so without water, and as your body loses its hydration, you will experience all kinds of awful side effects. Dehydration can cause irritability, lethargy, dangerously low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, headaches, shock, and even death.
The average adult can usually maintain proper levels of hydration by drinking enough water. That being said, extreme heat or exertion can be draining on even a healthy adult. Kids and the elderly are more susceptible to extreme dehydration than the average adult … so if you have kids or older adults in your life that are important to you, the tips outlined below can be especially important for them (and for you!)
- Pick the right water.
As a general rule, try to avoid hydrating beverages that have added sugar. In addition to having fewer calories, it’s important to choose hydrating beverages that don’t have sugar in order to prevent spikes in insulin levels. Going into a sugar crash compounded with the already-unpleasant sensation of dehydration is not the way to go. Plus, if you happen to be sick with diarrhoea during a hot summer day, sugary beverages can actually worsen your symptoms.
- Snack on the right foods.
Fresh veggies and fruits are good snacks this time of year, and not just for dieters. Fresh produce has a very high water content, so it’s a great way to hydrate without having to drink a ton of water. For example, an apple is up to 85% of water by volume.
Pickles (and pickle juice) are higher in electrolytes than beverages like Liquid Power or Powerade, and have been shown to reduce cramping cause by exertion in high temperatures. The acetic acid in pickles and pickle juice are considered superior to the citric acid found in commercial sports drinks, at least when it comes to rehydration properties.
Another food you should add into your diet when staying properly hydrated is a concern are chia seeds. In addition to being high in protein, the seeds themselves help you to retain water by absorbing many times their own weight in water. If you can’t find the actual seeds, you may be able to find a chia seed gel at runner’s/sporting goods or health food shops.
- Drink constantly, not occasionally.
You should be constantly drinking fluids, rather than guzzling multiple litres of water all at once.
Another way to explain this (in a rather radical comparison) is when you go to the hospital and get an IV drip, it’s a DRIP … meaning that you get a slow but steady introduction of fluids. You never see anyone getting an IV drip at the speed of a gushing fire hose.
It is better to have frequent, small amounts of fluid … especially if the dehydration is severe. Too many fluids at once can induce stomach upset or vomiting.
The amount of water you need in a given day depends on the environment, your activity level, and what other food and drink you have consumed.
Break up that amount of water into a cup or so every hour, and you’ll have a good, healthy intake of water. Drinking too much water in a very short period of time can put too much strain on your eliminatory processes, so finding the right balance is important.
- Avoid diuretic behaviours.
Don’t do anything that you know will dehydrate you. In addition to exercise, also watch out for alcohol and caffeine. You might feel groggy when you get to the office … avoid your usual The Hulk sized mugs of coffee and go for a large glass of water. You might be surprised at how much more effectively the water perks you up.
- Make it easy on yourself.
It’s hard to stay hydrated when you don’t have water nearby. At the office it should be easier – and practically impossible to avoid if you have a water cooler on the premises.
If you don’t, speak to the powers-that-be and ask them to drop AquAid a line, so that you get your water cooler tout suite.
Chia!
by Belinda Ollewagen | Jul 30, 2025 | Hot Water Taps, instant tap, Water Coolers
We all know that dehydration is bad for us and that it’s important to keep ourselves well hydrated throughout the day to ensure we perform optimally, which (in addition to it being the law) is another reason why companies provide easy access to water in the form of a water cooler, water boilers, and hot water taps. But many of us still don’t drink enough water, and even slight dehydration is harmful. Our bodies naturally alert us when they need replenishment, but thirst mechanism aside, what are the other cues we often misread?
Some of the first signs of dehydration are similar to hunger pangs, which mistakenly makes us reach for something to eat. The confusion apparently stems from our hypothalamus, that part of the brain that regulates appetite and thirst – which, when we’re dehydrated, gets its wires crossed. It’s always best if you’re feeling slightly hungry to try drinking water first, if hunger pangs persist then move on to a snack, but always try replenishing the body’s water supply before doing anything else.
A more obvious sign is a dry mouth, potentially followed by a headache – the latter is not something we would normally associate with dehydration, but unwittingly it is often the cause. According to University News‘ dehydration headaches may happen because a lack of fluids causes shrinkage in brain volume. This results in the brain pulling away from the skull, which triggers pain receptors in the meninges (the membrane that surrounds the brain).’ So, before you reach for pain killers, walk over to the hot water taps in your office kitchen and make a cup of tea or drink a glass of water. An important point to remember however is that while drinking coffee and tea will aid hydration, it is only effective around the four cups per day mark – if consumption exceeds that, it actually becomes a diuretic which is counterproductive to hydration.
Other more serious signs can include fatigue, heart palpitations, cramping, loss of concentration and loss of mental capabilities. It is particularly the change in focus and shift in mental acuity that affects productivity. A study assessing the effects of mild dehydration on cognitive performance found that ‘mild dehydration in men induced adverse changes in vigilance and working memory, and increased tension/anxiety and fatigue.’ Worryingly, many of us begin our day already mildly dehydrated which is then exacerbated by a lack of water intake as we move through our day.
It is imperative, both from a health and productivity point of view, that we maintain sufficient hydration levels, and we achieve this by forming healthy habits – keeping a bottle of water on our desks and sipping on it throughout the day; and taking regular water and tea breaks. Mild dehydration is insidious and if we are to function optimally, we need to learn to read the signs correctly.
