Many businesses are preparing to return their teams to work in accordance with government guidelines. Retail, gyms, and health clubs are also preparing to re-open next week. Make sure the water in your coolers and dispensers is clean and safe to drink, as we return to the workplace.
If your facility has been closed or had low occupancy, you will need to implement extremely high levels of hygiene as your return your teams to the workplace. Companies will turn to paper towels and single-use cleaning cloths and sponges, not the office kitchen dishcloth and sponge! Do check on the product quality and alcohol content levels in hand sanitisers.
But it’s not just the lobby, kitchen areas, breakout rooms, offices, and toilets that require attention. Consider your drinking water provisions including water coolers and hydration points in your workplace e.g. hot taps and drinking water boilers. Here are some best practice tips for water dispensers with filtration systems that have been idle during prolonged time periods or not serviced for some time allowing scale to build up, which could all do with some TLC for optimum operation.
Rest assured we always carry out any servicing with the highest approach to sanitation, even more critical in this current pandemic.
Water dispenser filters
If the cooler or water dispenser has been switched off or not used for a short time, up to 2 or 3 days, then the cartridge should be flushed with a minimum of 5 litres of water. This action will clear any bacteria that has built up as a result of term changes in temperature and light intensity which can affect water quality including taste and odour.
If the machine has not been used for a period of 4 weeks or more then the filter cartridge should be replaced. Bacteria and toxins that could be harmful to consume will have multiplied during this prolonged period of non-use.
Maintenance pays on hot water taps and boilers
Prevention is better than cure so say! When it comes to hot drinking water equipment, such as instant KettleTaps, boiling hot taps, and water boilers, keeping your equipment in good working order saves a lot of hassle from the team if it should stop working at tea break.
Regular sanitisation, servicing and scale management filters keep your tap or boiler in good working order and prevent damaging limescale build-up! Plus, the equipment works more efficiently and uses less energy. Servicing hot water equipment ensures it keeps working and doesn’t break down.
Sanitise your cooler regularly
It is essential to keep the outside of your cooler or dispenser clean. It only takes a minute with an antibacterial wipe to keep shared surfaces sanitised! Provide alcohol wipes and implement regular cleaning with anti-bac sprays to help minimise the spread of germs.
It is recommended to regularly sanitise the mouth and water contact parts of your water dispenser (cooler or fountain), especially the tap mechanism, as well the mains pipes/lines where water can hold, to remove biofilm and other bacteria from the cooler system. Biofilm is organic matter that contains bacteria and can build up on the waster contact surfaces of both bottled and plumbed-in coolers.
Empty and clean the drip tray regularly. To prevent dirt building up and water leaking from your cooler, simply remove and empty the drip tray. It only takes a minute to do!
Order filters and sanitisation kits
We have filters and sani kits in stock so get ahead of the return to work rush and order products now.
Our filters can be ordered here:
https://www.watercoolersdirect.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=80&q=water+filters+
Our cooler sani kits can be ordered here to help with this task:
https://www.watercoolersdirect.com/pou-cooler-sanitisation-kit
Also, consider the number and location of your hydration stations. With mandatory social distancing, you may wish to increase the number of coolers and dispensers available in your office to avoid gatherings and queues and provide adequate access for your team to keep hydrated and healthy.
You can talk to our friendly sales team on 0800 7311 491 to seek the right hydration advice.
If you would prefer one of our technical engineers to attend site and ensure your equipment is fully serviced, sanitised, and safe to use, we can arrange that for you with our back-to-work offers to help get you up and running with peace of mind.
Please do keep checking the Government and NHS sites for the latest information and advice here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
