by Fern Shaw | Aug 19, 2026 | instant tap, water boiler, water cooler, Water Coolers
Let’s fact check here for a moment. This is a blog page. The running (aha) theme is about all things water.
There are heaps of information about the supply of water and how we deliver said water to you, dear, valued customer, through the provision of our spankingly smart range of:
Bottled Water Coolers
Mains Fed Water Coolers
Water Boilers
Hotel and Catering Solutions
Water for Schools
Water Fountains
Instant Taps
It also helps to keep ourselves informed about the importance of drinking water, how to avoid becoming dehydrated (which occurs more often and easily than one might think), what to drink and how often to drink it. In general, it’s all about keeping yourself healthily hydrated.
But the one question we may not have yet asked is: What makes you thirsty?
Is it the popcorn?
You may belong to the heavily salted popcorn clan. When you go to the pictures, it’s not officially an occasion unless you have a bucket of very over-salted popcorn. Then your tongue swells up and you feel like you’ve been eating dry desert sand. At which point, you may wonder why on earth you’re so thirsty.
Hmm. Mystery solved.
Is it the fizzy stuff?
Perhaps you’re more of a spend all day in warm weather, keep active, run from place to place, perspire like mad and wait until the last possible moment before having a drink sort of person.
By the time you’re absolutely parched, you reach for a fizzy drink and guzzle it down. Unfortunately, a sugary drink isn’t necessarily the answer to your thirst and you may soon find yourself reaching for another one.
Is it the takeaway?
Or maybe fast food is the culprit. Chips, kebabs, sausage rolls (to name a few) leading to the inevitable:
“Why am I so thirsty?”
It turns out that might not be quite the mystery you thought it was.
So, what’s your thirst tipping point?
Whatever yours is, it’s worth remembering that some of our thirst can be self-imposed.
Us humanoids. We can be rather silly beings, can’t we?
Perhaps the answer is simply to drink water regularly throughout the day rather than waiting until your mouth feels like the Sahara. Your mind, body and soul will thank you for it.
by Fern Shaw | Aug 17, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
Unfortunately, drinking and replenishing our water usually isn’t a priority – from the moment we arrive in the office and even less likely throughout the working day, often until well after leaving work.
There are a few reasons for this:
Our focus is on work. Organising. Deadlines. Problem solving. Schedules. Meetings.
Our jobs require 100% attention. Whether the job spec requires precision work, attention to detail or constant interaction with customers, colleagues or other divisions.
There isn’t enough time in the day. Despite even the best organisational skills, this is a common complaint for those in the workplace.
In a study conducted by the Natural Source Waters Association of 300 UK General Practitioners, it was found that “one in five GP consultations were down to tiredness and fatigue and one in ten of those were thought to be linked to dehydration.”
It’s no surprise then that possibly the last thought that occurs is providing our body and mind with the very fuel which helps us function effectively while at work and throughout the working day.
However, there is a rather simple solution available:
Install AquAid water dispensers at work.
A water glass on the desk or bottled water to hand makes it easier to keep drinking throughout the day, particularly for those who are always on the move.
Getting into a routine of taking short breaks throughout the day can also help: take a breather, stretch your legs and circuit past your water cooler station to replenish your water.
by Fern Shaw | Aug 11, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers
When someone mentions an elephant, what’s the first thing that springs to mind?
Perhaps it’s their extraordinary size, their ears, their trunks or their extraordinary intelligence. Whatever the answer, one thing is certain – elephants have fascinated us for centuries.
This World Elephant Day, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate these magnificent animals and the vital role they play in the natural world.
If there’s one thing elephants don’t do by halves, it’s drinking water. An adult elephant can consume between 95 and 190 litres every day and its trunk can hold around 10 litres at a time. Water isn’t simply something they enjoy – it’s essential to their survival and to the habitats they help sustain.
That makes them surprisingly fitting companions to what we do every day. While AquAid specialises in supplying fresh drinking water through workplace water coolers and water dispensers, our charitable giving helps support something rather different.
For many years, donations made to The Africa Trust have helped fund the installation of more than 10,000 Elephant Pumps across Africa.
No, they’re not quite as majestic as the animals that inspired their name and unfortunately, we can’t install either elephants or Elephant Pumps in your office! But the pumps do share a few impressive qualities with their namesakes – one in particular being longevity. Built to last for decades, these robust hand pumps provide reliable access to clean, safe drinking water for thousands of communities, helping transform everyday life one water well at a time.
Just as elephants are known as keystone species because they help shape and support the ecosystems around them, access to clean water helps communities flourish. Children spend less time collecting water, families enjoy healthier lives and opportunities begin to grow.
Sadly, elephants themselves face an uncertain future. African savannah elephants are endangered; African forest elephants are critically endangered and fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild. Protecting these remarkable animals also means protecting the habitats and water sources they depend upon.
So, whether you’re refilling your bottle at the office water cooler or simply pausing for a refreshing drink during the working day, spare a thought for one of nature’s true giants. We may never match an elephant’s thirst but we can all appreciate the importance of a reliable source of fresh drinking water.
Sources
World Elephant Day – Elephant Facts
The Africa Trust
by Fern Shaw | Aug 3, 2026 | Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
Some blog ideas come together instantly. Others require careful consideration. This one was a bit of a toss-up.
Yorkshire Day? International India Pale Ale Day? International Beer Day? How do you choose?
Then a novel idea struck. Why choose at all?
So, we’ve gone with all three into one blog. Reason being 1) it makes things a little more interesting and 2) if one topic falls flat (I’m looking in your direction, ale and beer), you’ll have another ready to rescue your next water cooler conversation. And while you’re topping up your water bottle or refilling your water glass, you might even learn something new. Bonus.
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
With so many themed days packed into the start of August, you’re spoilt for choice. There’s also Play Day, but we’ve already covered that one in a previous blog.
Yorkshire Day
If there’s one county that knows how to celebrate itself, it’s Yorkshire.
Held every beginning August, Yorkshire Day celebrates the history, culture and traditions of England’s largest historic county. Towns and cities across the region host civic events, parades, concerts and community celebrations, with a different location taking centre stage each year.
It’s a day filled with local pride, good humour and a healthy dose of Yorkshire spirit (or ale and beer).
International India Pale Ale Day
If your drink of choice contains a little more malt than mineral water, this one’s for you.
International India Pale Ale Day was created to bring together brewers, craft beer enthusiasts and bloggers in appreciation of one of Britain’s most recognisable beer styles.
Despite the name, India Pale Ale has its roots in England. Brewers increased the amount of hops used in the beer because hops acted as a natural preservative, helping it survive the long sea voyage to India during the days of the British Empire.
Who knew a practical shipping solution would end up creating one of the world’s favourite beer styles?
International Beer Day
As if one beer celebration wasn’t enough, International Beer Day follows immediately afterwards.
Founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California, it quickly became a worldwide celebration and, since 2012, has been held on the first Friday in August.
Beer itself, however, is much older.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of brewing dating back thousands of years, with recipes recorded on clay tablets from around 4300 BC and traces of beer found in pottery dating to approximately 3400 BC.
According to the organisers, there are three simple ways to celebrate:
- Get together with friends and enjoy a beer responsibly.
- Raise a glass to the brewers and servers who make it possible.
- Celebrate the incredible variety of beers enjoyed around the world.
Whether you’re raising a pint, celebrating Yorkshire or simply enjoying a refreshing glass of chilled water, there’s certainly no shortage of reasons to celebrate the start of August.
Sources
Yorkshire DayYorkshire Ridings Society
International India Pale Ale Day
International Beer Day
Encyclopaedia Britannica
by Fern Shaw | Jul 29, 2026 | Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
Whether bouncy Tigger, resolute Shere Khan or Calvin’s faithful playmate, Hobbes, was your first introduction to the tiger, these magnificent mammals have captured our imagination for generations. In honour of International Tiger Day, we’re celebrating the real animal behind those unforgettable characters.
We may think they’re wildly exotic creatures, yet we Homo sapiens share more in common with them than you might expect.
Like us, tigers love water. They enjoy a refreshing drink, cool off with a swim when temperatures soar and even play in the water. Unlike many other big cats, they’re remarkably strong swimmers, often crossing rivers and relaxing in lakes to escape the heat.
Of course, our similarities go beyond enjoying a paddle on a warm day. We all depend on clean, reliable sources of fresh water. For tigers, healthy rivers, wetlands and waterholes are every bit as essential as they are for the countless other species that share their habitats.
Sadly, the future of the tiger is far less secure than the stories that made so many of us fall in love with them. Wild tiger numbers have declined by more than 95% since the beginning of the 20th century, and today, it’s estimated that only around 3,900 remain in isolated forests, grasslands and mangrove swamps across Asia. Habitat loss continues to threaten not only the tigers themselves but also the freshwater ecosystems they rely upon.
Fortunately, dedicated conservation projects are protecting habitats, restoring wildlife corridors and helping these magnificent animals reclaim their place in the wild.
So, the next time you enjoy a cool glass of water or head off for a swim, spare a thought for yet another creature who relies on water as much as we do. We may not share their stripes but we certainly share an appreciation for life’s most essential resource. The least we can do is help ensure future generations can continue to be inspired by the real thing.
Sources:
There’s A Day For That – International Tiger Day
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Tigers
by Fern Shaw | Jul 24, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
Every year World Nature Conservation Day shines a spotlight on the natural world and the role we all play in looking after it. From forests and rivers to wildlife and freshwater sources, healthy ecosystems support clean water, productive farmland and thriving communities.
It is also a timely reminder that conservation isn’t just about protecting nature for the future. It’s about making sensible choices today, using resources responsibly, reducing unnecessary waste and helping preserve the places and habitats we all depend on.
Looking Beyond the Workplace
Businesses and organisations can often make a bigger contribution than they realise. Small operational changes, when repeated every day across hundreds or thousands of workplaces, soon add up.
That might include:
- Reducing single-use plastics where practical
- Recycling responsibly
- Improving energy efficiency
- Choosing products and suppliers with environmental responsibility in mind
- Encouraging staff to adopt greener habits at work
No single action will solve every environmental challenge, but adopting better everyday practices is a positive place to start.
At AquAid, environmental responsibility sits alongside providing a wide range of high-quality water dispensers and delivering fresh bottled water to more than 40,000 customers across the UK. Through the charities we support, every bottle of water delivered and every water cooler installed helps fund projects that provide potable and productive water to communities in need. Using proven, long-established solutions, these initiatives have benefitted millions of people by delivering safe drinking water, irrigation and opportunities for communities to build stronger futures.
Everyday Choices Count
You don’t need to organise a major conservation project to support World Nature Conservation Day. Many of the most worthwhile actions fit easily into everyday life.
You could:
- Carry a reusable water bottle when you’re out and about
- Reduce unnecessary plastic waste
- Walk, cycle or share journeys where possible
- Switch off lights and electrical equipment when they’re not needed
- Join a local litter pick or community clean-up
- Support conservation groups or local wildlife initiatives
Individually these actions may seem modest, but when adopted by families, workplaces and communities, they contribute to healthier environments for everyone.
World Nature Conservation Day is a reminder that protecting natural resources is a shared responsibility. Whether it’s making thoughtful choices at home, encouraging positive habits at work or supporting projects that bring safe, reliable water to communities in need, every step helps build a healthier future for nature and the people who depend on it.
