by Fern Shaw | Oct 16, 2013 | Health and Hydration, water cooler, Water Coolers
I still giggle when I think about drinking water fountains. Heavens only know why. We used to have one in the dojo I did karate at (jaha – more to this blogista than just a keyboard I tell ya). I just thought the water fountain was awfully clever. Our school certainly didn’t have them. No siree Bob, our school had school toilets – ugh – and school basins – double ugh – and Lifebuoy soap – *shudder*.
Then, schools changed and we got lucky. How so, you ask? This so, I say:
AquAid’s stylish drinking water fountains make a great addition to any school, gym or area where a high volume of water is required. Research has shown that children do not drink enough water during the school day which is why AquAid are one of the UK’s leading providers of water coolers and drinking fountains to schools. These machines offer you the added benefit of being durable as well as only using a small footprint.
Water Fountain – features:
- Rugged Steel construction
- Stainless steel sink top
- Both Swan neck and bubble options
- Extremely durable with proven reliability
- Drainage and mains water required
- Coil on Coil refrigerated cooling system resulting in reduced running costs
- Environmentally friendly
Why the emphasis on Water Coolers & Drinking Fountains for Schools?
Dehydration is serious for all of us, but no more so than to our children. At the time a child starts to feel thirsty, they will have already lost more than 20% of their ability to perform both physically and mentally. The direct result of this is not only a worsened academic performance but also lower concentration spans leading to increased classroom disruption.
An experiment in ‘brain hydration’ carried out at an Edinburgh primary school showed that the introduction of water bottles on pupils’ desks led to a significant improvement in national test results over a 2 year period. Despite these important facts:
- Two-thirds of children are still not getting enough drinking water, and
- A fifth of children drink no water at all,
according to research conducted by the Department of Health and Food Standards Agency.
So, this is rather marvellous news all round as having easy access to drinking water means a healthier and happier child, who is more able to pay attention in class, will have a better capacity to learn and will have sufficient (but not sugar-filled) energy to get through the day.
Please, contact us at AquAid today, we’ll be more than happy to take you through the choices for the optimum water cooler for use at your school; gym or play area.
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 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 | May 3, 2013 | Health and Hydration, Water Boilers
What is the difference between sunburn, sunstroke and heat exhaustion?
In a previous blog, I rather optimistically spoke about Spring being on the horizon, the grass rising … so now I may as well stretch that optimism further (boiiiinnnggg-ing) by casting my foresight towards the prospect of Summer and the Summer ‘oliday.
Summer breaks can be the make or … break between one maintaining one’s sanity in the workplace instead of plotting the demise of an annoying colleague around the water cooler, but before you pack in either your Borat costume or your dental floss bikini as the only necessity that you’ll need on the beach at Olu Deniz, have a squizz through this blog and understand that sun, sea and holiday could very easily end up being sun, burning to a crisp and coming home in an air ambulance.
Sunburn is caused by overexposure to UV rays, characterized by sore, red skin that can become itchy and even blister, if it’s severe enough. It can also be accompanied by fatigue and mild dizziness. Remember – even if you call your burn a tan, the fact of the matter is, tanning your skin only happens as a result of your skin being damaged.
Heat exhaustion is the result of exposure to very hot weather and signs can include fatigue, dizziness, headache, rapid pulse and breathing and muscle cramps. It can also lead to sunstroke – which can be fatal.
Sunstroke or heatstroke is caused by long-term exposure to very high temperatures, or dehydration. It can also come about if the body’s internal mechanism for regulating temperature is inadequate.
When does heat exhaustion become sunstroke?
Symptoms of sunstroke include:
- Not sweating (a sign your body is no longer capable of regulating your internal temperature).
- Skin that feels hot and flushed
- Fever
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
Why does this happen? Exposure to extreme temperatures can shut down your body’s capacity to keep you cool through sweating. This could lead to major organ failure, shock and unconsciousness.
Dehydration can exacerbate sunstroke.
We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: water is your friend. Drink at least eight glasses a day and even more in hot weather and when you’re exercising.
Now, obviously, as you head off to soak up the sun, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to pack in work’s desktop water cooler – a) the work drones left behind may have a slight issue with this, b) the boss may lay theft charges against you and c) it’s rather unlikely that the airline will accept the water cooler as additional baggage no matter how you dress it up as a ‘can’t-leave-home-without-it’ item. So, in order to keep your cool (both temperature and vibe wise) this Summer, say it one more time with me:
Water is your friend. Drink at least eight glasses a day and even more in hot weather and when you’re exercising.
Happy ‘olidays.
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.
