Water cooler

A water cooler (also Watercooler ) is a soft drink vending machine, the ( usually free ) delivers potable water and appropriate to small cup holds.

Water dispensers are found primarily in companies and medical practices, increasingly, as a service in department stores or supermarkets. They are available as table-top units, which are, for example, use in kitchens as they are only slightly larger than a coffee machine in the normal case, and as a stand pillars, being here a distinction between table-top devices with cabinet and equipment in stainless steel pedestals.

To select the most are silent ( ie without carbonated ) uncooled, still chilled and carbonated drinking water. Sometimes the cups have a downward tapered shape. This has the advantage that the user the cup because he can not just leave him, disposed of in a trash can.

There are wired (Point- of-Use (POU ) ) and non- line-bound ( bottled ) water dispenser. The wired systems are connected to the water line; The water is removed via a simple button system. Non- wired systems typically use spring water or reverse osmosis water from large containers.

As with all devices that come into contact with food, regular cleaning is required. It is recommended, for example, to clean the faucets, and drip pans daily with a special cleaning cloth and / or hygiene spray. Larger companies offer maintenance services that meet the hygiene guidelines of the German industry association Watercooler Association eV ( GWCA ) (at least annual replacement of all parts coming into contact with water and pipes). There was initially only for Bottled Water Cooler such guidelines, such state-approved hygiene guidelines are now since mid-2010, for water dispensers, which are connected to tap water applied.

In the United States installed water dispensers are in corridors, such as in educational institutions very often. Here, however, no vessels are used for drinking. Man leans forward and drinking straight from the tap, in a small arc discharges the water to the top.