10 Reasons why architects choose Aquafil®

Our Aquafil® drinking water fountain and refill stations are popular with architects and city planners for a number of reasons. They encourage a healthy lifestyle, offer useful amenity for the public and can become defining feature points of any civic space.

 

Here are ten key reasons why architects should choose an Aquafil® product for their next civic project:

 

  1. A convenient source of great-tasting drinking water

Our product provides access to clean, safe, accessible drinking water. Why is that important? Because architects specify the amenities that affect the user experience, and making free drinking water available to the public is a wonderful amenity. Tap water in many parts of Australia is notorious for having a bad rep, even though it’s generally safe to drink. Many Aquafil® stations also include water filtration to cater for this.

 

  1. A place to gather at

Aquafil® drinking fountains and refill stations are great at providing a focal point for people to meet and gather. Our signature range of water drinking fountain and bottle refill stations also include signage panels, creating a distinctive and easily recognisable feature in any public space.

 

  1. Aesthetics

Our product line offers a range of designs to choose from. Architects can select from our wall-mounted Fresh Refill Station and Drinking Fountain range to our more unique Alpine Double Water Refill Station. Our designs are modern and practical, making them great additions to schools, universities, medical centres, and outdoor public spaces.

 

  1. Functionality

Architects choose our Aquafil® products because they are functional and well designed. Our signature line of water stations have been designed, engineered and assembled by our team in Sydney, and our years of experience in the industry is testament to our success.

 

  1. Environmentally Friendly

Our product line of refill stations encourages the use of reusable water bottles over single-use bottled soft drinks and water products. Single-use plastic drinking bottles is an inefficient way of delivering drinking water and has become a burden on our environment; the majority of plastic bottles are not recycled and end up in landfills every year. Australia alone spends more than half a billion dollars a year on bottled water. Having our line of drinking fountains and refill stations easily accessible can help alleviate our large use of plastic bottled water.

 

  1. Educational

Aquafil® stations are a great way of teaching environmental awareness. They facilitate the use of reusable bottles and encourage drinking more water over sugary soft drinks. Our stations incorporate customisable signage panels that help communicate this.

 

  1. Economical

Using a drinking fountain and refill station can save a person a lot of money. Architects love using our products because they provide a way for their users to save money on purchasing bottled drinking water or soft drink.

 

  1. Inclusiveness

Aquafil®’s products are easily accessible by anyone who needs it. Most of our range are child- and wheelchair-friendly, with DDA compliance. Our products have multiple points of access, and we have products suited to indoor and outdoor applications. And for pet lovers, we even have an added option of a dog bowl!

 

  1. Ergonomic

An architect also has to consider a person’s comfort when using their facilities and the items on it. That’s why they choose Aquafil®. Our drinking fountains are easy to reach, with buttons that are durable and comfortable to use. We have spent a lot of time developing suitable valve technology to make the product as long lasting and easy to use as possible. Our refill stations also provide ample space to put your water bottle in and work wonderfully.

 

  1. Taste

Our product offerings are also popular with architects because of the great taste of the water. Our optional filtering systems and anti-bacterial nozzles ensure that the water that comes out is clean, fresh, and tasty. A lot of time, tap water can have odd flavors due to the chemicals used as a disinfectant. Our additional layer of filtration removes all the impurities from the water so that it tastes like water and nothing else.

How drinking water has improved over the last 100 years

Mankind has faced the challenge of obtaining safe drinking water for millennia. Many cities were founded on rivers, as water was recognised as one of the key ingredients for sustaining a civilisation. In the last two centuries, in particular, society has developed a greater understanding of water quality through science and engineering principles. Providing safe drinking water has been one of the most important public health goals for countries internationally, and is undoubtedly one of the key contributing factors of global growth in human population. Today water filtration is taken for granted in many parts of the world, although there is still scope to improve this. Aquafil® water drinking fountain and bottle refill units make use of this technology, bringing clean, fresh-tasting water to public spaces.

 

So how is water prepared so that it is suitable for drinking?

Filtration is an important part of the equation when it comes to clean drinking water. The first recorded experiment for filtration in modern history is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, who believed that using sand to filter seawater would purify it. His hypothesis proved to be incorrect, but it paved the way towards further studies on clean drinking water filtration, such as sand filters in 1804. This is one of the first steps in filtration.


After filtration, the use of disinfectants is required to clean the water for drinking purposes. In 1905, chlorine was first used as a primary disinfectant for drinking water in Lincoln, England. This was the first recorded use of chlorine as a permanent water chlorination technique. This method was utilised in Lincoln to replace slow sand filters when it was discovered that the filter was faulty and the water supply was contaminated. The chlorination method introduced by Dr. Alexander Cruickshank Houston fed a concentrated solution of chloride of lime to the water that was being treated. Eventually, chlorine gas was used to clean water instead, which is how countries such as the USA disinfect their drinking water.

 

For Australians, the government and water authorities use settling, coagulation, filtration, and disinfection techniques to provide safe drinking water through taps. They have to use sufficient disinfectants to stop any re-growth of microorganisms during the delivery of tap water through pipes. While tap water is generally deemed safe to drink in Australia, they can still contain many impurities, both natural and artificial, which can affect the taste.

 

Our Aquafil® water drinking fountain and bottle refill stations offer an additional level of filtration as an optional design feature. Our filters can reduce the chlorine taste as well reduce possible contaminants such as dirt, lead particles and asbestos fibers in drinking water. As an added benefit, our filters slot perfectly inside our water stations, protected and concealed from public view. Many stations also have the added benefit of anti-bacterial bottle refill nozzles that provides an extra layer of safety for users.

 

Water is a key factor in the wellbeing of our communities. Many cities and civilisations were founded around water bodies as it is a crucial resource for survival. Filtration of water has come a long way, especially in the last 150 years, with the advent of modern science and engineering. Aquafil® water drinking fountain and bottle refill stations make use of this, by offering high quality, accessible drinking water products available to the public with the latest in water filter technology.

What Are The Natural Sources of Water?

There are a total of three natural sources of water. They are categorized as: rain water, underground water and surface water. Here is a look at each and what supplies these sources.

1 – Rain Water

Rain water includes other sources such as snow and additional types of precipitation. The precipitation that falls to the Earth is a major part of the water cycle as it replenishes both surface and underground water sources.

 

2 – Underground Water

These are the sources of water that basically you can’t see or can’t access easily. The important role underground water sources play in the water cycle is that they are the primary sources for human consumption. These underground bodies of water are often accessed through wells and when pressure under the surface is too great, this water is pushed up and out through springs.

 

3 – Surface Water

Easy to see and use, surface water is easily the most abundant supply of natural water. The downside is that most of the surface water on the planet is salt water so it is not ideal for drinking for most living species. Surface water does play an important part in our daily lives in addition to being a source of drinking water. Surface water is used to produce hydro-electric power as a clean energy source that is also renewable. Surface water is supplied by precipitation, springs and ice melting from higher elevations and glaciers.

 

Hidden Natural Sources Of Water

Probably the largest source of water on the planet is ‘hidden’ or trapped in a different form of water. The ice in glaciers, polar ice caps and even in the atmosphere all contain hidden sources of water. Although these sources are not readily available for use, they all eventually become fresh water through melting and precipitation.

 

Careful How You Use It

Although all the natural sources of water are constantly replenished through weather cycles, we still need to be conservative in how we use water. Fresh water is like a precious gift. We should use it sparingly and do everything in our power to share and protect it for future generations. When we control how we use water, we are helping the planet.

If your municipality has water restrictions, follow them to ensure there is enough water available for when you really need it. Try to not waste water in your home by using flow regulators and collect rain water for use in your garden. There are several ways to keep the natural water cycle flowing if we are careful in how we use the water we have access to today.

 

Why We Need To Drink Clean Water

Considering the majority of our bodies are comprised of fluids and water, it only makes sense that we should drink clean water if we want to stay healthy. But what exactly does water, in particular, clean water, do for us really? Here is a look at some of the benefits to having clean water in your system.

 

1 – Reduce Health Risks

 

Ask any doctor or health care professional and they will tell you that you will be healthier if you drink clean water. But what exactly does water do for us inside our bodies aside from keeping us hydrated? It turns out that without clean water our bodies can suffer from many different issues. They include kidney stones, cancer, blood clots and heart disease. We can also develop mental and general fatigue, crankiness and put on extra weight.

The main organ that benefits from when we drink clean water is the kidney. In fact, our kidneys process the water contained in our bodies and in doing so makes sure we don’t end up with urinary tract infections by flushing excess fluid out of our bodies as urine. The flushing also removes other toxins that enter our bodies through other means.

As for preventing cancer, with regular intake of clean water the workout you give your bladder reduces the risk of it developing cancer. Plus, as water contains no calories but works to make you feel full, it plays a vital role in several diet plans. As a result, drinking water and eating healthy foods work to promote weight loss and the maintenance of a safe weight.

 

2 – Reduce Dehydration

It’s no secret that if your body does not contain enough water, it will become dehydrated. Various factors will have an impact on how your body uses the water inside it and without proper replenishing of water lost through these factors you risk hurting yourself. Dehydration puts stress on the body and can wear you down making you susceptible to contracting various illnesses or problems.

Also, when the body becomes dehydrated the amount of blood flow throughout the body is affected. This contributes to mental and physical fatigue. When you are not mentally sharp you risk having problems with judgment and could end up injured from an accident or fall from fainting. When you drink enough clean water you prevent all of these issues.

 

Preventative Medicine

So you could actually look at having to drink clean water as a form of preventative medicine. By keeping your body properly hydrated you reduce the risks that can come from “running low” on fluids. Just as a vehicle does not operate well without correct fluid levels, your body won’t either so you need to keep topping it up with clean water whenever you can.

Daily Water Intake – How Much Do You Need?

You could ask your doctor and you could ask at a health food store. Regardless of where you go to find out how much is considered a safe amount of daily water intake, there are several factors to consider. Ultimately you want to avoid dehydration, but drinking water when you are thirsty is not enough. Here are some tips to guide you.

 

1 – You Need Water Daily

The human body depends on water for several reasons. It flushes toxins away, provides a pathway to cells that nutrients travel through and keeps sensitive organs moist for proper functioning. Dehydration is what happens when your body lacks the amount of water it requires. Without the proper level of daily water intake you risk losing energy and getting worn out which reduces productivity and quality of life.

 

2 – What Affects Your Hydration

As easy as it is to say you should drink 8 or 10 glasses of water daily, there are factors that have an impact on how your body uses it. If you exercise, or lead an active lifestyle, your body will lose more water through sweat than someone less active. This fluid loss needs to be recovered and extra water will suffice.

The environment you live in will also impact your hydration level. In particular, hot or humid climates will be a clue that you should increase your daily water intake. The same goes for high elevation climates which may increase breathing which will use more water than other localities. Plus, if you are ill or suffer from some health conditions, you will deplete your fluid reserves faster.

Another consideration is specifically for expectant mothers and breast-feeding women. Large amounts of water are used especially while nursing which needs to be replaced in order to prevent dehydration. It is a general guideline that nursing mothers consume no less than 13 cups of fluids per day to compensate.

 

3 – When To Drink Water Daily

As the foods you eat have a significant amount of water content, probably the most reliable source of fluids for your body comes from drinking water. This is why it is easy to add glasses of water to your daily routine. Drinking one with each meal, one before and after exercising or a vigorous activity and drink enough during the day where you do not feel thirsty and you will remain hydrated.

 

Stay Hydrated – Stay Healthy

As long as you are sure to keep your daily water intake at a level where your urine is either colourless or light yellow, you will keep your body healthy. With the right amount of fluids in your system, everything functions properly and you will look and feel your best!

3 Reasons Why Plastic Drink Bottles Are Harmful

You’ve seen them and have probably used or recycled several already. Plastic drink bottles are manufactured to be one use only and as a disposable item they are filling up trash cans and recycle bins everywhere. In fact, estimates say that consumers are using up to 1,500 of these plastic drink bottles every second! Aside from the huge volume of waste being produced, there are other reasons why they are harmful.

1 – Human Health Concerns

Let’s just cut to the chase. The chemical used to make plastic hard and clear is known as Bisphenol A, or BPA for short. It is a chemical that has been linked to several health issues including some forms of cancer, neurological matters, birth defects, fertility decreases in women and several more problems. The bottom line is that BPA is not good for your health and it is contained in plastic drink bottles.

 

2 – Animal Health Concerns

Wouldn’t you know it, although the plastic bottles are recyclable, their companion bottle tops are not. What this means is that although a bottle will likely find its way to a recycle bin and then to a recycling plant, the bottle tops typically end up in the trash. As they are dense in weight, they will often end up at the bottom of a bag of garbage.

This also means that a number of these bottle caps manage to work their way into streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. As a result wildlife and marine life end up swallowing these little things that do not break down in their system. Birds have died tangled up in plastic and even whales have washed up on North American beaches with bodies full of plastic material including bottle caps.

 

3 – Environmental Concerns

The petroleum product used to make plastic drink bottles is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which happens to use significant amounts of fossil fuels. For a visual of how much oil is used to manufacture a single bottle, fill one to about a quarter full of water. That’s how much. That’s a huge amount of oil used to produce something designed for a one time use.

Plus, recycling plastic may sound like a great idea but it is actually more difficult to recycle. In fact, because of this many communities don’t take recycled bottles further from their drop off depot. This means landfill sites end up with them and all that can be done is they can be buried which allows dangerous chemicals to leach into the ground over time.

 

How You Can Make A Difference

The simple solution that comes from your involvement is to stop using plastic drink bottles. It is not hard to do with several different fresh water alternatives available to choose from. Besides, you don’t want to keep feeding landfills or oceans something you only get to use once anyway.

Water Refill Stations: Help Communities Become Environmentally Aware

A water refill station can help people become more conscious about the environment. Here’s how:

  • Promote the benefits of reusable water bottles over single use plastic bottles
  • Have a win-win solution (stay hydrated and help the environment)
  • Set a trend and a good example

Those are the ways a refill station can help. Let’s discuss each one:

1. Promote the benefits of reusable water bottles

Reusable water bottles can have a huge and long-term positive impact on the environment. They go hand in hand with the use of a water refill station.

People need a strong and reliable container that they can use every day and stainless steel water bottles are a good choice.  They are durable containers that can be washed and reused every day.

In addition, reusable water bottles make it easier  to stay hydrated whilst not having to buy single use plastic bottled water.

2. Have a win-win solution (stay hydrated and help the environment)

Many Australians  are now eager to help the environment but some still don’t know how.

Water refill stations are an easy way to start making a difference.  Everyone, old and young  can start right away. Imagine the impact this will have in years to come if everybody made filling up their water bottle part of their regular day to day routine.

You feel good each time you refill your bottle. You stay hydrated and healthy whist  also reducing plastic waste.

3. Set a trend and a good example

We often observe other people before we do something. That’s especially the case when refilling water bottles.

It starts with a few people  but as time passes, more and more people follow. This results  in an accumulative effect  as more people refill their bottles, more people will adopt the same routine.

It also sets a good example for the youth who can start adopting the trend as well. At the beginning it will only be a trend but after some time, it will become the  normal thing for everyone to do.

This can result  in a long-term impact that the community will benefit from.It can also encourage other communities near and far to adopt the same practices.

A water refill station for your community

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.”

It’s the same with helping the environment. You can start right now and have a drinking fountain and water refill station in your community.

If you need a sturdy water refill station and drinking fountain for your community, you can call us on  1300 400 006 and we’ll provide you with practical and environmentally friendly solution.

Water Hydration Station: 3 Short and Long-term Benefits for People and Environment

A water hydration station can positively impact both the people and the environment. It’s a small and yet long-term investment that will yield positive results for everyone.

That’s why many communities now have a water refill station and a drinking fountain. Aside from being a growing trend, water drinking stations will continue to be a part of many cities and localities for decades to come.

Many environment-savvy Australians are also becoming aware of the short and long-term benefits of a drinking water station. A few of these are:

1. Less sugar consumption

This is important. Our bodies are not built to take in much sugar and carbohydrates. Notice that many diseases today are related to overconsumption of sugary foods and drinks (e.g. diabetes, metabolic syndromes, inflammation).

It becomes a daily habit that’s why the effects are often disastrous. This is the case especially with consuming sugary beverages.

Why do people consistently buy those sugary drinks? One reason is that there’s no reliable source of water around. Once they go into the stores, the bottled sugary drinks are prominently displayed (which is why many buy the product).

Thankfully, more and more water hydration stations are being installed in communities. Australians and even tourists can drink water instead of relying on sugary drinks.

2. Less plastic waste

Many people already drink more water even outdoors. However, some still regularly buy bottled water from the stores.

These plastic bottles are often non-biodegradable. Natural processes can’t break down those plastics so they accumulate in  landfill. They might also end up in lakes, rivers and oceans.

The solution is to have a water drinking station nearby. This way, people will just drink directly from the bubbler or fill up their refillable bottles from the refilling point.

This would result in more people using refillable bottles instead of  single use plastic bottles that ultimately end up in landfill. This will help the environment and the world as a whole.

3. Set a good example

People learn best by example. This is  the case especially with kids.

Since they are still learning and havelimited experience,  they are influenced by what they see happening around  them and adults should be leading by example.

If people around are always drinking sugary beverages, kids will likely copy that. But if people  choose water over sugary drinks, children will be learning from a good example.

Water hydration station for schools, parks and communities

People and the environment will benefit from  water drinking stations. It’s an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to stay hydrated and maintain good health.

If you need a refill station and a drinking fountain for your place, you can call us at 1300 400 006 today.

A Win Win Solution for Both Businesses and the Environment

There are times when business practices harm the environment. This is especially true with modern industrialisation. That’s why it’s a challenge for business owners and managers to promote their eco-friendly stance and practices.

How can companies effectively promote their products and services and still be perceived as eco-friendly? How can they also help the environment in the process?

One uncommon way to accomplish that is through the use of a water bottle refill station with advertising panels.

Benefits of Using Advertising Panels

Advertising is a means to communicate with the public. The goal can be brand awareness or to attract more buying customers. It can be in many forms such as flyers, brochures, billboards, and posters.

Another form of advertising is through the use of standing advertising panels. More and more companies and organisations now use them to promote their products and services. Why?

One reason is that it provides a lot of visibility. Advertising panels stand out. One success measure of advertising is how many people it can reach. Another reason advertising panels are a choice is that they can stand the harsh weather and the test of time.

Flyers, brochures, billboards, and posters can all fade away or need replacement after some time. The wind, moisture, and the unpredictable weather can all contribute to that.

In contrast, advertising panels can endure the outdoors and remain clear and visible even through the months and years. They can reach more people and even help the companies get better returns for their investment.

Advertising Plus Helping the Environment

Companies can also take advantage of advertising panels to help the environment. How? They can install water bottle refill stations with advertising panels. Marketing agencies can also opt for these if they want to further help their clients reach more leads and customers.

With water bottle refill stations, the public can have access to clean water without selling new bottled water. More and more people now are becoming aware of the benefits of hydration and choosing the more eco-friendly practices (e.g. refilling instead of buying new bottled water).

Also, these water bottle refill stations with advertising panels provide a lot of visibility. For companies and organisations, this is a huge plus. They can advertise their products, services or advocacies while helping the environment. Truly, this is a win-win solution for both the environment and the organisations.

Companies and organisations can install a water bottle refill station in parks, beaches, sporting facilities, and other areas. If you think a water bottle refill station is what you need, contact us today for more information.

How Eco Friendly Companies Can Stay Consistent with their Practices

Some organisations have already conducted surveys about the preferences of customers. Some say that over 50 percent of all consumers prefer dealing with companies that apply eco-friendly practices. One survey even claims that it can be as high as 80 percent.

No matter the result, one thing is clear. More and more people now are becoming aware of the environmental impacts of companies (especially the industrial ones). That’s why some of these companies position themselves as applying environment-friendly practices.

How companies practice eco-friendly acts

From production to distribution, there’s a way to implement eco-friendly practices. For example, manufacturers are now starting to use more natural materials in their production. Some even use solar or wind energy to complement the traditional energy sources in their manufacturing processes.

Even during the packaging and distribution, eco-friendly practices now rule. More companies now are also becoming more responsible when it comes to the disposal of waste. Many even recycle their own stuff and wastes from other organisations.

How companies can stay consistent

Each of the established companies often has a stated Mission that unites the whole organisation. This way, their efforts will all point toward one common destination.

All their efforts should stay consistent and on track. If they want to promote their company as one supporting the environment, every little detail should be in line.

That’s why some of them even encourage the use of reusable water bottles. This way, the public will use fewer (or zero) plastic bottles. Imagine the hundreds of plastic water bottles you prevented from coming into the landfill.

During fundraisers and other large events, many organisations install portable drinking fountains. This way, people can just drink from those clean water sources without buying sugary drinks or bottled water.

Both the reusable water bottles and portable drinking fountains can help companies stay consistent with their environment-friendly practices. It’s a small investment but the companies can produce a positive impact that could last for generations.

Consistency is the key to achieving a goal and helping the environment. Even in small acts, the vision should remain consistent. It’s also the key to making a long-lasting impact both for the organisation and the environment.

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