In a country with a hot and humid climate all year round, staying hydrated in Singapore is a must. In fact, the Health Promotion Board recommends drinking 8 to 10 250mL glasses of water daily. Knowing this, it’s important that you always have a steady supply of water on hand wherever you are, and one way you can achieve this is with a water dispenser.

Bottled water dispensers have become a common fixture in many offices, hotels and restaurants, as well as other commercial establishments. They offer the convenience of supplying clean drinking water on demand (barring the need for refills), can be stationed anywhere since there is no need for a plumbing connection, and is relatively affordable.

That said, what then are some of the costs, both visible and hidden?

Visible costs would of course refer to the cost of the dispenser unit, maintenance and repair fees, and water delivery service. However, there are also hidden costs to consider, and they can be divided into time, space, health and safety.

Having a bottled water dispenser will require time spent managing water bottle supply, from monitoring how many bottles you have in stock to scheduling refill deliveries. It also takes considerable time and effort to replace these heavy and bulky bottles frequently.

In terms of space, bottled water dispensers typically have a compact body that can fit anywhere without being intrusive. However, stocking up on your water bottles (typically 11- to 22-liter bottles) will require additional closet or floor space. Whether at home or in the workplace, space is quite essential and valuable, especially when it could be used for something more practical.

Whenever you need to replace a bottle, there is always a risk that the water can become contaminated once a bottle is opened as it becomes exposed to an open environment. Unlike a plugged water dispenser that can come with built-in filtration and purification 24/7, there is no additional layer of protection.

With these bottles being so large and heavy, there is a risk of injury whenever a bottle needs to be replaced. Water is also limited by the number of bottles one has on hand; if you’ve run out of bottles, so too will your water supply run out until you’ve gotten more.

Every type of water dispenser has its pros and cons, and you should evaluate your needs carefully before selecting the most suitable choice for you.