Water Coolers - Not Just for the Office Anymore

(ARA) - Water coolers -- the machines with a bottle on top that dispense water -- are typically associated with offices. But drinking water is beneficial for everyone, not just office workers, and having a home water cooler is convenient, cost effective and environmentally friendly.

How we get water varies widely. Many people just turn on the tap, but in some places, tap water is not safe or the taste is not appealing. Sales of bottled water have soared in the past 10 years, but much of that is simply repackaged tap water and hundreds of thousands of water bottles end up in landfills every year.

Having a water cooler at home can be an efficient and cost-effective way to get your daily dose of H2O in a convenient way. The benefits of having a home water cooler include:

* Instant chilled water and, depending on your dispenser, instant hot water for hot beverages and foods like soup and cereal.

* Extra space in the refrigerator formerly taken up by large water bottles.

* Healthy, refreshing, good quality water.

* Less expensive than purchasing individual bottles of water.

* More environmentally friendly than bottled water.

"The typical American household can save about $200 per year over individual single-serve bottles by owning a cooler," says Billy Prim, chief executive officer of Primo Water Corporation. Primo is now available at Kmart and Primo bottle recycling centers are now located outside many Kmart stores.

Primo's Zero Waste bottles reduce landfill waste and demand for crude oil. Once they are no longer usable, they are recycled into other products such as carpet fibers and other packaging. The bottles fit any water dispenser and are available in a variety of sizes.

Kmart customers can deposit any brand of empty water bottle into the Primo recycling center to automatically receive a coupon to purchase their next three- or five-gallon bottle of Primo water. You can also find a wide range of water dispensers in the store or at Kmart.com.

If saving money, refrigerator space and being more environmentally friendly isn't enough reason to invest in a home water cooler, consider their effect on the typical office -- you may just be purchasing your home's newest gathering spot.

Courtesy of ARAcontent