Meet Me by the Water Cooler: An Office Icon

The drama of my work place all comes back to or originates from the water cooler conversations. The morning begins with small talk, discussing the weather and on few occasions work- related business. The water cooler however sits directly in a zone where no cameras catch the goings on. None of the senior members of staff or the boss’ office crosses path with the water cooler, as they are important enough to have their own personal assistants or receptionists to bring them iced water whenever they desire. The space is therefore a hub of heated discussions between whoever is annoying who on that day, or Mark and Lindsey who married three months ago and seem to possess all the passion that comes with a new marriage. It has also been said everything from as ludicrous as drug deals to sexual advances have taken place between colleagues. Without a doubt all the rumours that circulate between employees are spread through the gossiping in that area of the office.

After arriving late for work one day I found a note saying “meet me by the water cooler,” and laughed thinking it would surely be Alison, my best work buddy writing with her left hand or something else to disguise her writing. I also found it amusing as I would surely be going to the water cooler, as I did every morning to simultaneously fill my drink bottle and also have a chat with Alison or whoever else seemed to be about. I put my bag in my drawer and walked towards the cooler passing Alison’s empty desk on the way. My interest level spiked when I saw her absent chair and unusually tidy desk. I knew I should have been feeling more concerned for my friend and the reason behind her absence, but I could not help the feeling of anticipation as I drew closer to the water cooler and the revealing of mystery note-writer. Once I arrived there I tried to fluff up my short black, slightly unwashed hair and then quickly stopped as it must have looked strange. Everyone often forgot that while the little compartment of the wall by the cooler felt private it was still in plain sight of many our cubicles. I casually flicked the tap and watched my bottle fill with water, trying to again casually look around and see if any of my co-workers would jump up at the sight of me standing where they had requested me. I began thinking then, who did I want it to be? After approximately fifty seconds I suddenly became horrified, I did not fancy any of my co-workers, and only a small portion of which were anywhere near my generation in age. As I turned to walk away from the cooler I noticed another note saying “meet me by your desk” on the back of the ceramic dispenser.

As I sat back down at my desk I became suddenly quite aware I had work to be getting on with and leant over to turn on my computer.

 By my monitor was yet another note, saying “meet me by the stationary cupboard,” I sighed and went to put the note in the bin when on the back I saw “last one, promise,” was written. I stomped my way over to the cupboard, opened it and squished inside was Alison. “Surprise!” Allison yelled, jumping out and then stretching her neck, complaining, “I’ve been in there for bloody ages!”

I was speechless, and so were the few poor souls that had their desks closest to the cupboard. “What on Earth is wrong with you? I’ve wasted like 20 minutes this morning on your little sleuth hunt,” I said smiling and also shaking my head. “Oh I don’t know, thought it would be fun! But I’ve got to talk to you, it’s important…By the cooler just before lunch breaks,” Allison winked and walked away, leaving me hanging in anticipation for the next chapter of her water cooler centred sagas.

Material Counts: Ceramic Water Dispensers

An extensive range of water dispensers are currently on the Australian market and prospective buyers are wondering how to choose the best material for their requirements. Among the key points of interest to prospective buyers are appearance, safety/fit-for-purpose, cost/ maintenance and durability. Some of the key issues will be addressed in this article, with particular reference to ceramic water coolers compared to plastic dispensers.

Appearance and durability

Few people would argue that plastic water bottles are aesthetically pleasing – and the same goes for water dispensers. As a housing material, plastic is generally associated with ‘cheap, crappy and flimsy’ – favoured by companies which cater to the lower end of the market, where cost is the overriding factor - often to the exclusion of all else.

By contrast, ceramic water coolers look natural, solid and classy - they instantly convey the impression of something substantial and valuable. With earthy clay as the base material, ceramic water coolers not only look natural, but they are the obvious material of choice for the world’s most essential natural commodity: water. With its natural look and colours, a ceramic water cooler will look ‘right’ even in the most stylish home.

In addition, appearance and texture of ceramic containers are not affected by temperature fluctuations (within reason), whereas plastic containers will literally lose their sheen after a short time: most plastics do not take kindly to fluctuations in temperature. Inevitably, what starts out as a pristine-looking plastic water dispenser will soon go dull and become prone to cracks, particularly when cleaned at high temperatures before reuse.

Fit for purpose and safety

One definite advantage of plastic water dispensers is their light weight, compared to a ceramic water dispenser; a definite disadvantage is, that plastic has no insulating properties, so the water temperature inside a plastic water dispenser will increase significantly in the hot weather, unless chilled. Given the hot Perth summers, the question to be asked here is: which is the greater benefit: insulation or light weight? To answer this question, we must ask does the light weight advantage outweigh the disadvantage, of no insulation? When the lack of insulation leads to the potential for plastic chemicals to leach into the water supply, this question becomes irrelevant. People prioritize their health and the maintenance of hygiene and safety standards over the convenience or portability of a plastic water dispenser.

Ceramic or porcelain (which is a ceramic material finished and treated in a different process) therefore seem to be leading choice in buyers of water coolers, due to the appearance and the overall consumer approval of low cleaning/ maintenance requirements. The benefit of an untainted, high quality water supply is assured through ceramic dispensers and not for plastic dispensers, which have been shown to be highly influenced by temperatures fluctuations and instances of chemical leaching, which for the filtered water- purchasing demographic is a much more significant reason to choose ceramic dispensers above their plastic counterparts.

You Know That Old, Ceramic Water Dispenser Your Granny Gave You?…

In the age of overconsumption, it’s occasionally nice to stumble across something durable and long-lasting, almost an anomaly in this throw-away society. With the abundance of flea markets and second-hand stores coming back into the fore, pre-loved items are finding a new home, including numerous ceramic items. Durable and long-lasting, ceramics have long been a favourite material to make beautiful pottery and kitchenware. The trouble with purchasing ceramic items is the unknown possible lead content it may contain.

Lead has been used in ceramic ware for a long time now, normally in glazes and decorations. The lead provides a smooth and glossy, almost glasslike finish that helps to let bold colours and artistic patterns to shine through. But while lead can provide a beautiful finish to a piece of pottery, it is also a highly toxic substance. While it can affect people of any age, it is especially harmful to children, pregnant women and unborn babies. Lead accumulates in your body over time, so even small trace amounts can end up posing a health risk if exposed to. Most contamination occurs when traces of lead get into food and drink during preparation, storage or serving if using ceramic products.

Home testing kits can be purchased to determine whether your ceramic contains traces of lead. They use a ‘quick colour test’ system and contain a chemical that turns a certain colour when applied to a surface that contains significant quantities of leachable lead. Now, while this test kit can be easily purchased from our local hardware store, the test is only useful in detecting the presence of lead, and not the amount. The only way to determine the exact amount of lead that the crockery leaches is to send it to a laboratory for testing. In addition to being expensive, this can also damage the item.

So what’s the best way to enjoy owning and using ceramic items, without the worry of lead contamination? Buy 100% guaranteed, lead-free ceramics, such as Aussie Natural’s 100% lead-free, ceramic water dispenser. Buying a ready-made ceramic product that contains no traces of lead, will save you from tracking down that test kit, and potentially damaging your item. The water dispenser is designed to keep the water natural chilled, just below room temperature, for that perfect, not too cold on your teeth temperature. And as a bonus, the water dispenser requires no power source or complex set up to run, which is always handy to save on the power bill and the environment at the same time.

At Aussie Natural, we pride ourselves on providing our Perth customers with high quality, fresh drinking water and the right dispenser to enjoy it with. Whether you are looking for a ceramic water dispenser for the home or the office, one of our team members will be happy to discuss options with you. Fill out our enquiry form to start enjoying your Aussie Natural Spring Water today!

The Easy Way To Stay Hydrated Even in Winter - Water Coolers

As Autumn comes to a close and the temperature starts to drop, the air becomes drier and our bodies have less of a chance to absorb moisture like they can during the Summer months. Some people will find they tend to have drier skin, cracked lips and a whole host of other annoyances. One reason for the lower level of moisture in our bodies is that we tend to drink less water during cold weather. When the weather is hot, and we’re spending most of our time running about in the sun, it’s easy to remember to drink water since we’re so thirsty all the time! But, the same can’t be said when you’re stuck indoors, during Winter.

So, if you’re not sweating, and running around in the heat, why is it still important to keep your water levels up? While we may not have the warm sunshine keeping us thirsty and craving water, we instead have heaters blasting. Our bodies chemically are mostly made up of water - about 70% - and to maintain a hydrated state, regardless of the time of year, requires plenty of water. And while thirst is a good indicator of dehydration, it is a late indicator.

So how much water should you be drinking?

The amount of water you should consume varies from person to person. Certain factors such as activity level, weight, gender, and age should all be considered when deciding on a daily intake of water. Australia's current dietary guidelines don't recommend a specific amount of water, but simply recommend we 'drink plenty of water'. The guidelines also encourage us to opt for water over juices, soft drinks, cordials or the like. There are Nutrient Reference Values

(https://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/water) advising that adult men should drink 2.6 litres of water per day (about 10 cups) and adult women should drink 2.1 litres per day (about eight cups). But these figures are based on the average weight of men and women, so if you're underweight or overweight you may consider adjusting your fluid intake. A good rule of thumb is 35 millilitres of fluid per kilogram of body weight.

In the blistering winter, a glass of ice water does seem less appealing. As the temperature continues to drop, we find ourselves preferring a hot beverage to warm ourselves up. Some water cooler systems offer cold & cool water options, as well as cold & hot options to make things more convenient. So to maintain your hydration, grab that glass of water, a cup of tea or mug of soup. By realising just how important water is, supporting our bodily functions will keep you as healthy as possible, regardless of the season.

Having an Aussie Natural water cooler installed into your Perth office or home is an easy and convent way to ensure you have quick access to cool, cold & hot natural spring water options available at the tip of your fingers. Call us on 1300 360 332, or fill out an enquiry form to speak to one of our team to secure your new water cooler today!