When you think of bottled water coolers, the words 'cool' and 'funky' don't often come to mind, but there's one type of water cooler that's getting a bit of hipster attention – a retro-style ceramic water cooler. It looks pretty good (that smooth surface just begs you to run your hands over it) but does it do a good job of keeping your water cool and filtered? People have been using clay pots for ages to store and cool water, but a study has found that filtering with clay will remove between 95 and 99 per cent of E.coli. Maybe the Aztecs and Egyptians were on to a fairly good thing with this simple technology! But maybe it's not the best solution for a modern workplace...
The ceramic water filters work by using clay's natural properties to filter out bacteria which generally can't pass through the small pores. The filter sits in the top half, while the bottom half contains the filtered water and is fitted with a tap. Those who like retro have seen it as a good accompaniment to an Aga and retro sink, and it makes an interesting conversation piece when people are gathered around the kitchen table, but does it come up to modern standards? Well it needs to be filled – it doesn't simply connect to a mains supply like a plumbed-in water cooler and you can't attach standard water cooler bottles, so getting hold of the best-quality spring water is going to be a lot more tricky. And while it keeps the water fairly cool you won't get the ice-cold water on demand like a modern water cooler. Finally, if you're after safety and cleanliness the self-cleaning of some of our new models can't be beaten, and there're no quarterly sanitisation visits for an old-school ceramic cooler!
Looking back we can see how water coolers have developed in the last few decades, using the latest technology and materials to become extremely energy efficient and environmentally friendly. While ceramic filters are pretty stylish, those looking for a modern and convenient beverage solution are better off sticking to the latest Eden Springs water coolers!
