by Fern Shaw | Jun 3, 2013 | water cooler, Water Coolers
In order for us to reach the very convenient, refreshing and rather necessary plateau of the age of the Water Cooler, this is how water wended its way throughout the UK throughout the decades.
This week, we look at potable water solutions and discoveries through the 1800’s.
1808
Richard Gillespie devised a filter system for Glasgow’s Cranston Hill waterworks using a layer of sand and gravel.
1820s
Robert Thom in Scotland and James Simpson in England perfected mechanical and sand filtration at the same time.
1826
Aberdeen collected water from near the Bridge of Dee by building a tunnel alongside the river which drained off filtered water from the river bed.
1840
John Roe helped solve the problem of blocked drains by building an egg-shaped sewer.
1847
Polluting drinking water was made a criminal offence.
1847
An aqueduct and pipeline was built to bring water to Bristol from sources 25km away.
1848
Manchester built five reservoirs in the Langdendale Valley 15km from town.
1852
The General Board of Health recommended building new sewers in every town.
1853
Leicester was the first town to set up sewage works to treat waste water.
1859
Glasgow’s Loch Katrine works were opened providing the city with a supply of 230 million litres per day. At the time, the Corporation was warned about the dangers of lead pipe corrosion by soft acid waters.
1861
Aberdeen extended its River Dee tunnel system to supply 28 million litres per day.
1865
Joseph Balgazette designed the first interceptor sewers to carry London’s sewage down the banks of the Thames to be dumped into the estuary.
1867-78
New laws allowed town councils and local authorities to take water companies into public ownership.
1869
The “Native Guano Co.” at Hastings and Leamington dried and pressed sewage to sell as manure.
1880
Liverpool built Britain’s first all-stone dam on the River Vyrnwy in Powys.
1885
Water was checked for bacteria for the first time.
1890s
Bacterial sludge beds were first designed for treating sewage.
1892
Birmingham was given 18,000 hectares (45,000 acres) of Wales to build three reservoirs in the Elan Valley. These were opened in 1904.
At AquAid, we’re pleased to say that we offer the aforementioned potable water in a variety of forms, from bottle fed through to mains fed water coolers.
Water comes from 3 different sources throughout the U.K. and our water coolers are available nationwide, a few that are highlighted above. But do have a look at our nationwide coverage to establish which AquAid will best suit your requirements.
Plus, revenue from sales is donated by AquAid to sustainable charities like Christian Aid and The Africa Trust.
by Fern Shaw | May 29, 2013 | water cooler, Water Coolers
Here is the ‘Law-uh’! (to be said with an old-school-spaghetti-Western-type-small-town-sheriff pronunciation).
In the U.K. the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations of 1992, Regulation 22 places requirements on the employer with respect to the provision of drinking water.
It states:
1. An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water shall be provided for all persons at work in the workplace.
2. Every supply of drinking water required by paragraph (1) shall –
(a) be readily accessible at suitable places; and
(b) be conspicuously marked by an appropriate sign where necessary for reasons of health or safety.
3. Where a supply of drinking water is required by paragraph (1), there shall also be provided a sufficient number of suitable cups or other drinking vessels unless the supply of drinking water is in a jet from which persons can drink easily.
With this rather stern fact out of the way, I then proceeded to cross fjords, wade through rivers, scuba in ponds and was sadly, unable to find any unusual water laws per country.
What I did come across, however, were a plethora of unusual water tidbits and factoids.
- If the entire world’s water were fit into a 4 litre jug, the fresh water available for us would equal only about one tablespoon.
- Each Briton uses about 150 litres of tap water a day, but if you include the amount of water embedded within products, our water consumption increases to about 3400 litres a day.
- One cotton t-shirt has about 25 baths full of water embedded in it. (Frightening that, but the thought of seeing Colleague X nekkid at the water cooler, the t-shirt needs to stay)
- To produce just one pint of beer for example, takes 170 litres of water.
- It takes 200,000,000 litres per second to grow food for the planet.
Overall, that’s a lot of water used and some of that isn’t even for drinking!
So, employer, be kind to your employees and install a water cooler that will allow them to keep hydrated and therefore, be happier, healthier and more productive during working hours.
And remember, it’s the law-uh! *cue sunset and whistle Ennio Morricone theme to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and exit stage left*
by Fern Shaw | May 13, 2013 | Water Coolers
I often wonder who it was who first came along and thought – ‘hmmm, water in a large bottle waters many people, no large bottle, less people watered’?
So, I investigated a little and this is apparently the case:
Can’t be pinpointed, but apparently, a form of plastic was discovered by Leonardo DaVinci during the Renaissance, however plastic did not become widely used commercially for water until the mid-20th century. This was due to the high cost of manufacturing the material. Once high-density polyethylene was introduced, plastic become the preferred choice starting in the late 1960s.
Prior to this, mineral water from San Pellegrino in Italy has been drawn and produced since 1395! Evian’s roots began in 1826. A local French doctor began the Perrier Company in 1898, and the water used in the bottles is pulled from a Roman spa called Les Bouillens. All of these were bottled in glass (and some still are) prior to the 1960’s.
This was all very interesting, but then my hamster hopping mind started thinking about the rather bizarre concept of shipping water from continent to continent. Rather funny that. Taking water (many, many millions of litres) across the water to another place where there already is water. Bottled water in the bilges where there already is water – okay – bilge water isn’t drinkable, but you get the idea.
Next I thought about water flying. Bottles of water being flown from many destinations to many other destinations. Slightly changes one of my favourite axioms, “Have ___ , will travel’, to ‘Have water, does travel!’
And here we are today, clean, fresh drinking water on tap and at a button press. At AquAid, our water is sourced locally; then it’s bottled and hey nonny no, it zooms off to you.
Hang about, let’s back up a little bit. Firstly, what are we zooming to you? Five litre bottles, 19 litre bottles?
Have a peek at our bottled water coolers whether it’s a desktop water cooler or a free-standing water cooler (don’t worry, they’re free standing, not free-range, they don’t roam), and decide what will best support your water supply requirements.
If you’re not sure, let us know – we will be more than happy to guide you in the correct choice. We have, after all, have been supplying water coolers throughout the U.K. for the last 15 years, so we sorta know our stuff (says she buffing her nails against her jacket lapel).
by Fern Shaw | Apr 26, 2013 | Water Coolers
- On Good Friday in 1930, the BBC reported, “There is no news.” Instead, they played piano music. (They were probably all gathered around the water cooler).
- In England, in pubs or bars, you can have drinks but you are not allowed to get drunk and in Scotland you are on the wrong side of the law if you are drunk and in possession of a cow. (So, perhaps safer to drink water, but watch out for that bovine companion).
- In London, the tube route from Leicester Square to Covent Garden is the most popular tube route for tourists despite the fact that it is actually quicker to cover this distance on foot. (Remember to drink your water on this trip).
- The 409 escalators in the London subway cover a distance every week which is approximately equivalent to several trips around the globe. (Again, even if you’re only using a few of these escalators, drink your water).
- The Queen of England, who once enjoyed extensive powers and authority over almost the whole world and despite all her present majesty and glory, is not allowed to enter the House of Commons simply because she is not its member. She may only enter the House of Lords.
- In medieval England even animals were tried in royal courts and punished for damages they inflicted on people or their properties. (That poor cow has a right to its beef!).
- In the Great Fire of London that wreaked havoc on the city and necessitated massive reconstruction work, the casualty count was only eight. (Imagine if all the premises had had water coolers on site).
- The English drink more tea than any person of any other nation (over twenty times more than Americans).
- Did you know that London has had many names in the past? It was called Londonium during the Roman Invasion, Ludenwic in Saxon times and Ludenburg during the kingdom of Alfred the Great.
- The treasures contained in the British Museum span two million years of world civilization. (Hmm, gem encrusted water bottle, anyone?)
- Did you know that the River Thames, which flows through London, has over 200 bridges and 20 tunnels? (Lots of water there, but I doubt that I’d be drinking it).
by Fern Shaw | Apr 11, 2013 | Health and Hydration, Water Coolers
… Rain (blizzards, snow, and sub-zero temperatures) or Shine (weak lemony coloured sun that wouldn’t tan a meringue) you begin to notice that your staff is a tad dispirited, if not outrightly unproductive. No spring in their step, no whistle in their walk.
So, at great cost, you institute an Independent Board of Enquiry to establish the cause of this general malaise that’s affecting everyone from Mrs Tibbins, usually the whizz bang accountant, through to Mr Oogle, usually the zoomiest bike messenger ever (but sadly not for the past few months.)
While all of this is in motion, the meeker than the proverbial mouse IT person, Tad, squeaks up.
‘We’ve no water in the water coolers’, says Tad, ‘so everybody’s most likely dehydrated’.
‘What?’ splutters HOD Mrs Furthingstoke, ‘what does that have to do with everyone not performing at their peak? Pure poppycock, I’m sure!’
‘Incorrect’, corrects Tad, ‘not drinking water regularly is one of the leading causes of many illnesses and especially fatigue’.
As it turns out, Tad was proven correct. The Board of Enquiry was dismissed, the water coolers were kept replenished, productivity soared and absenteeism dropped rapidly.
Take it from Tad, dehydration can happen sooner than one thinks. Some early warning signs are:
- Light-headedness, dizziness;
- Tiredness, irritability, headache;
- Dry mouth, throat and eyes;
- Sunken features (particularly the eyes), flushed skin and skin that is loose and lacks elasticity;
- Heat intolerance;
- There may be a burning sensation in the stomach, urine output will be reduced and may appear darker than usual.
So, in the interests of having a healthy, happy, productive work environment, take the simplest route – ensure that there is always fresh, clean drinking water from source, available at the press of a button, in the workplace.
by Fern Shaw | Apr 8, 2013 | Charity, Water Coolers
The Elephant Pump – how does it work?
What is it?
The Elephant Pump is a manual activated water pump based on a 2000 year-old Chinese design that the CEO of The Africa Trust, Ian Thorpe, adapted, to make it stronger and more durable.
This award winning Pump brings a cost effective, reliable and sustainable solution to one of Africa’s biggest problems.
What does it do?
It is made and maintained using materials that are locally available in remote rural sub-Saharan African communities, which means that once the Pump has been built, local resources can be drawn upon for repairs and replacement parts.
It draws water up from a well at a high volume – approximately 1 litre per second. That means 60 litres per minute.
How does it work?
As the handle is turned, water is drawn up from a well of up to 30 meters in depth via a central pipe by washers attached to a rope. As the pump mechanism is fully enclosed to exclude sources of contamination, it yields a quality and quantity of water which exceeds WHO guidelines. The surplus water is used for livestock and irrigation of crops.
What are the benefits of the Pump?
The Elephant Pump has already contributed to bringing over 2 million people in rural Africa, a safe water source, at a price significantly less in comparison to comparable hand pumps.
- The ancient methods of constructing the Pump ensure the materials can be locally sourced and built, further promoting employment within the local community.
- Reliability – At any one time around 95% of existing Elephant Pumps are in operation which is 40% above the average for Africa.
- Ease of Use – The Elephant Pump is safe and suitable for operation by children and the elderly.
- High Volume – The Pump can provide 500 people with 20 litres per person, per day for domestic use.
- The money saved from installing an Elephant Pump provides enough money to build an additional pump providing a further 500 people with water.
Where does AquAid fit in?
At AquAid, we continually strive to supply water coolers that are best suited to our customers’ requirements thereby ensuring that our customers keep hydrated. At the same time, our water coolers also help provide safe drinking water to thousands of people every year by donating to sustainable charities; the Elephant Pumps in particular, being built as a direct result of monies donated to The Africa Trust.
How do you fit in?
For each purchase of an AquAid water cooler, a portion of that revenue is donated to Christian Aid and The Africa Trust.
We also have on-going paperless campaigns where selected customers are offered the opportunity to have an Elephant Pump with their name on it, built in a rural community, thereby ensuring a safe water supply to others less fortunate.
So when you use our services you are also benefiting many others in the developing world and helping to save lives.
