Cost of ownership comparison between a Mains-Fed and Bottled Water Dispenser

   While there may still be some situations where a Bottled Water Dispenser is ideal (e.g. where there is no access to mains water, or in a Portacabin where plastic pipes could freeze and split during the winter) there is little justification. Just to emphasise the point, here is a simple cost comparison between the two different types. Obviously the following cost comparison is based on prices at time of writing, but I believe the conclusion speaks for it's self.
The numbers are typical industry averages and aren based on any particular model or manufacturer.

 
Let use the example of an office with 20 employees:
Assumptions
Each Water Dispenser will serve 20 employees
Bottled water is supplied in 19 litre containers
10 employees consume approximately 1 bottle per week
Rental and sanitisation cost of a typical bottled Water Dispenser -   84.00
Number of 19 litre bottles per week (based on 10 employees per bottle) - 2
Typical cost of bottle -   5.50
Cost per litre of water on metered supply -   0.0013*
Premises on a Water Meter (worst case scenario)
Therefore:
Bottled Water Dispenser Cost
Total Cost for water supplied in bottles in a year =   5.50 x 2 x 52 =   572.00
Total Cost for Water Dispenser and water in First Year =   84 +   57 2=  656.00
Total Cost for Water Dispenser and water over Three Years =   1968.00
Mains-Fed Water Dispenser costs:
Installation Cost FREE
Annual rental and maintenance cost -   312.00
Cost of water from metered supply =  0.001 x 2,000 litres =   2.00
Total cost for Mains-Fed Water Dispenser in First Year -   314.00
Total Cost for Mains-Fed Water Dispenser over Three Year -   942.00
Now compare the two sets of figures in the Table below:


   Bottled Water Dispenser Mains Fed Dispenser
Total Cost for First Year:
Bottled Water Dispenser =  656.00
Mains Fed Dispenser =  314.00
Total Cost for Three Years:
Bottled Water Dispenser -  1,968.00
Mains Fed Dispenser =  942.00
Saving:
Year 1 -  342
Year 3 -  1026
As you can see, in a three year period, the cost advantage of Mains-Fed Water Dispensers is enormous ! N.B. This doesn include the environmental costs of transporting and eventually disposing of over 250 plastic bottles!
* Water UK, October 2010