by Fern Shaw | May 27, 2012
Are you dehydrated?
A massive 96% of UK office workers are reported to be dehydrated. A mere 2% drop in hydration can lead to a 20% drop in concentration.
Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining your physical and mental well being. A simple way of determining your hydration status is by looking at the colour of your urine and comparing it with the colour chart on the left.
When you are drinking enough water your body is in balance and your urine will be a pale straw yellow colour (hydrated).
When you have not drank enough water your kidneys try to save as much water as they can and cause your urine to be darker in colour (Dehydrated).
Below are just some of the effects of dehydration:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Painful urination
Thankfully, regaining hydration is simple. One or two cups of water will quickly give the body the water it needs and help you maintain a healthy and active life.
Why not download our PDF and enable yourself to put a chart up in your toilets to help your staff stay hydrated – Download the pdf here.
by Fern Shaw | Jul 17, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers
There are some celebrations that need little explanation and the recent World Ice Cream Day is one of them.
Ice cream has a surprisingly long history. Thousands of years ago, people in ancient Persia were enjoying snow mixed with fruit syrup to cool down, while centuries later frozen dairy desserts began taking shape in China before early versions of modern ice cream appeared in Italy. Fast forward a few hundred years and it’s become one of the UK’s favourite ways to make the most of the sunshine.
It’s fair to say we Britons love our ice cream.
Whether you’re all about a classic vanilla cone, can’t resist rich chocolate, fancy the nutty flavour of pistachio or reach straight for a fruity lolly, there’s something for everyone. In fact, it’s estimated that around twelve ice creams are sold every second during a typical British summer. That’s a lot of brain freeze!
When it comes to favourites, familiar names such as the Magnum, Cornetto, 99, Feast and Solero have all earned their place in our stomachs (and freezers). Everyone has their go-to and family trips to the seaside have probably sparked more than a few friendly debates over which one deserves top spot.
Of course, as enjoyable as ice cream is on a warm day, don’t forget about the drink that’s with you all day long – water. A refreshing glass of chilled water helps keep you hydrated, especially during warmer weather when it’s easy to lose more fluid than you realise.
Now, much as we’d love to help, we can’t recommend using an AquAid water cooler to dispense ice cream. Tempting though the idea of unlimited Mr Whippy on tap may be, we suspect our engineers would have a thing or two to say about it. What we can recommend is using an AquAid water cooler which dispenses refreshing chilled drinking water in seconds. Whether the weather is pleasantly warm or absolutely hot, hot, hot, there’s nothing quite like a cool drink to help you stay refreshed.
So, however you’re marking World Ice Cream Day, enjoy your favourite flavour, keep a bottle of water close by and make the most of the summer while it lasts.
Sources: Days of the Year Unilever
by Fern Shaw | Jul 13, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers
Eating well and staying hydrated tend to go hand in hand. This series looks at everyday foods with high water content or strong nutritional value – simple choices that support a healthier routine with minimal prep or fuss. While fresh fruit can contribute to overall fluid intake, it works best alongside consistent access to drinking water, whether that’s from a water cooler wherever your location or regular trips to your Instant Tap. Healthy food and good hydration are straightforward habits – and often the easiest ones to maintain.
Strawberries have a habit of appearing just when many of us start spending more time outdoors. They’re the summer fruit associated with the British tennis event but they’re just as enjoyable at breakfast, packed into a lunchbox or as a light afternoon snack.
Made up of around 90% water, strawberries are naturally refreshing while also providing vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants. They’re relatively modest in sugar compared with many processed snacks, making them a satisfying choice when you’re looking for something sweet without reaching for biscuits or confectionery.
More Than Just a Bowl of Strawberries
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying strawberries exactly as they are but they’re surprisingly versatile too. Try adding them to yoghurt, porridge, or a green salad, blending them into a homemade strawberry juice, or freezing them into refreshing iced lollies. However you enjoy them, they’re a straightforward way to add a little more fruit to your day.
Some people also like to slice a few strawberries into a jug or bottle of drinking water. It adds a subtle hint of flavour without relying on sugary drinks and can make it a little easier to reach for another glass.
A Refreshing Partnership
Although strawberries contain plenty of water, fruit can only contribute so much to your daily hydration. The real foundation is still regular drinking water throughout the day.
Think of strawberries as the perfect companion rather than the main event. A handful of fresh berries alongside a glass of water is a simple, refreshing combination that’s easy to enjoy throughout the day.
by Fern Shaw | Jul 6, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
If you’ve ever watched a game of tennis, you’ll know that calling advantage means you’re just one point away from winning the game.
When it comes to workplace hydration, installing an AquAid Water Cooler is a bit like that. It’s a simple decision that brings a whole host of advantages to your business, your staff and your visitors.
Advantage: Choice
Every workplace is different, which is why we offer a wide range of hydration solutions. Whether you’re looking for a bottled water dispenser, mains fed water coolers or affordable water fountains, we’ll help you find the right fit for your space and your team’s needs.
Advantage: Local Service
With 23 branches across the UK, there’s an AquAid team nearby to provide friendly, reliable local service backed by the strength of a national company. It’s the best of both worlds.
Advantage: Experience
We’ve spent 28 years helping businesses stay hydrated and now support more than 40,000 customers nationwide. From small offices to large organisations, we’ve built our reputation on dependable products and exceptional customer service.
Advantage: Hassle-Free Hydration
When you become an AquAid customer, keeping everyone hydrated couldn’t be easier.
- Free on-site surveys to recommend the right solution.
- Scheduled servicing and sanitisation, so you don’t have to remember.
- Simple, centralised billing, even across multiple locations.
- Reliable support from your local AquAid branch.
It’s hydration without the headaches.
Advantage: Wherever People Gather
Water coolers aren’t just for offices. They’re equally at home in tennis clubs, sports clubs, golf driving ranges, leisure facilities, gyms, schools and community venues – anywhere people need easy access to refreshing drinking water.
Advantage: Making a Difference
Choosing AquAid benefits more than just your organisation. Every bottle of water purchased and every mainsfed water dispenser installed helps support the charitable projects we fund, creating access to safe water for thousands of communities.
Game, Set and Match
Whether you’re looking to improve workplace wellbeing, create a better experience for customers and visitors or simply provide convenient access to refreshing drinking water, installing an AquAid Water Cooler is an advantage that’s hard to beat.
by Fern Shaw | Jun 15, 2026 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
Water is one of those things we rarely think about until we’re thirsty. Yet the more you learn about it, the more interesting it becomes.
So, next time you’re standing by the water cooler refilling your water bottle or water glass, here are seven fascinating facts you can present to your workmates.
- Water can taste a little different depending on the source
Ever noticed that water tastes slightly different when you’re away from home?
That’s because water naturally picks up minerals as it travels through rocks and soil. Areas with higher levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium can produce water with a subtly different flavour profile.
Better still, AquAid water is sourced from four carefully selected locations across the UK, so wherever your location, you can count on a consistently refreshing glass of water from your cooler.
- The weight you lose after exercise is mostly water
We’ve all felt pleased after seeing the scales move following a gym session. However, most of that immediate weight loss is actually water lost through sweat and breathing.
It’s one of the reasons rehydrating after exercise is so important.
- Water is the ultimate dissolver
Water dissolves more substances than any other naturally occurring liquid on Earth.
It’s this remarkable property that allows it to transport nutrients, minerals and oxygen around the body, helping everything function as it should.
- Cold water can taste more refreshing than warm water
Ever wondered why a chilled glass of water often seems more satisfying than one at room temperature?
Temperature can influence the way we experience flavour. Colder water suppresses certain tastes and odours, which can make it seem cleaner and more refreshing. It’s also one of the reasons many people prefer their drinking water nicely chilled.
Of course, whether you like your water icy cold or at room temperature is a matter of personal preference but there’s some science behind why that cold glass often hits the spot.
- Hot water can freeze faster than cold water
This one sounds made up but under certain conditions it can actually happen.
Known as the Mpemba Effect, the phenomenon has intrigued scientists for decades and remains one of water’s more surprising quirks.
- You can drink too much water
It sounds unlikely, but drinking excessive amounts of water in a very short period can dilute sodium levels in the blood.
Known as hyponatraemia, this condition is rare and is most commonly associated with endurance events where athletes consume large quantities of water over several hours.
- Water is stronger than it looks
Water molecules naturally stick together, creating what’s known as surface tension. It’s one of the reasons water can move through incredibly tiny blood vessels, helping transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Not bad for a simple glass of water.
A water filled conclusion
I was familiar with some of these facts already but the last one still amazes me. The idea that water can travel through incredibly small vessels, helping carry oxygen and nutrients around the body, is extraordinary when you stop and think about it. It happens every second of every day, yet most of us only think about water when we’re thirsty.
Want to get on the right track to fitness and health? Know you’re not drinking enough water every day?
Contact AquAid. We’d be pleased to help with all your water cooler dispenser requirements – keeping you water fit and hydrated, rain or shine.
Sources
NHS – Water, drinks and hydration
British Nutrition Foundation – Hydration
Drinking Water Inspectorate (UK)
Royal Society of Chemistry – The Mpemba Effect
AquAid – Our Water
Institute of Food Technologists – How Temperature Affects Taste
