Ban the Water Cooler?

We´re blogging beachside this week (yeah, it´s a rough life.) We´re in Mexico, where, for us gringos, bottled water is pretty much a necessity. But for all you folks chained to your desk at work, here's an idea: ditch the bottled water. If your office supply tastes funny, all you need is a simple filter. It makes so much sense that some cities are starting to ban bottled water.

All the trucks driving around, the coolers plugged in and sucking electricity... the more you think about it, the more wasteful it seems. According to this blog post, bottled water has been banned in San Francisco, Seattle, and London, and it seems reasonable to switch to a filter—or just straight tap water—just about everywhere else.

As we're not within reach of a water cooler ourselves, we´ve been looking for a more illustrative photo for this post. So far, we´ve come up dry, but it is remarkable how many people have water coolers in their homes... we thought their natural habitat was in the office. (Our favorite window into human nature: the photo we spotted at Flickr of a water cooler used as a stand for water bottles. Hey, if it´s unplugged, it´s at least a bit greener, right?)

Comments (6)

This is a great idea, except for those of us that don't have plumbing in our office. I'd more than happily drink tap water like I do at home. However, to do that I'd have to fill up my water bottle in the ladies bathroom where it doesn't fit under the tap....

One good way to determine whether or not office tap water is safe to drink is to observe if upper management is drinking it. If they're not, then there's something that they might know that others don't... at least that was the case in my last place of employment.

We have a water/ice machine in the break room area here at work. I just use a glass from home, out of a set I no longer wanted and walk to the ice machine every couple hours to stay hydrated.

While I completely agree, the one perk of water coolers is their ability to also dispense hot water for hot chocolate, instant coffee, soup cups, oatmeal etc. Its hotter than a tap, no running water waiting for it to heat up, microwaved water just tastes bad and makes a mess...

A funny side note on bottled water. I work for a company that put together a plan bottle the City's water because it is considered some of the cleanest/safest in the country...to the point that many Cities copy our system. Yet, many people in my office will not drink tap water! I lived with well water before bottled water was available at grocery stores and we used to drive to the City and fill jugs from our families taps!

plan *to* bottle the City's water

I have an under-the-sink water filter at home and fill a 52 ounce drinking jug every day. Add the screw in red ice doohicky that came with the jug and I'm set for work. It fits nicely in my tote bag.