6 Reasons Companies Switch from Water Jugs to Bottleless Coolers

Walk into most offices and you’ll see the same thing: a big plastic jug sitting on top of a water cooler. It’s been the standard for decades. But more companies are questioning whether there’s a better way.

A growing number of businesses in Western and Central New York are moving to bottleless water coolers, also called point-of-use systems. These units connect directly to a building’s water line and filter water as it’s dispensed. That means no more deliveries, no more storage closets full of jugs, and a steady supply of clean water on demand. Beyond convenience, bottleless coolers can lower expenses, improve workplace safety, reduce environmental impact, and adapt as a company grows.

Here are six of the most common reasons companies are trading in their water jugs for bottleless coolers.

1. Cost Savings That Add Up

Bottleless water coolers are more cost-effective than jug delivery because they eliminate ongoing bottle purchases, delivery fees, and storage costs. Businesses typically save hundreds to thousands of dollars each year by switching.

At first glance, jug delivery may seem inexpensive. A company might pay $7 to $10 per jug, which feels manageable when looking at a single order. But once you add in hidden fees and the long-term expense of ongoing deliveries, the cost grows significantly. Most businesses also face:

• Delivery charges that fluctuate with fuel costs
• Deposits and replacement fees for lost or damaged bottles
• Employee time spent receiving deliveries and swapping bottles

A small business with 20 employees may consume 10 to 15 jugs per month. That adds up to several thousand dollars annually once delivery surcharges and handling time are factored in. By contrast, bottleless coolers operate on a flat monthly subscription that typically covers the cooler unit, filtration, and routine maintenance. Predictable billing makes budgeting easier, and over time, the savings can more than offset the switch.

2. Convenience for Employees and Businesses

Bottleless coolers are more convenient because they never run out of water, remove the need for heavy lifting, and free up valuable office space.

One of the biggest frustrations with jug delivery is running out of water between scheduled drop-offs. When the last jug runs dry in the middle of a busy afternoon, employees are left waiting until the next delivery or resorting to bottled water runs. Bottleless coolers solve this problem completely by filtering water directly from the tap, ensuring the supply never runs out.

Convenience also comes from removing the need to change jugs. Lifting and tipping a 40-pound bottle isn’t just awkward; it’s a common cause of spills, back strain, and shoulder injuries. In most offices, there’s no designated “water manager,” so whoever happens to be nearby is stuck with the task. By eliminating bottles, businesses eliminate this burden entirely.

Space savings add another layer of convenience. Full and empty jugs often take up entire closets, clutter breakroom corners, or line office hallways. In smaller offices or urban workplaces where square footage is at a premium, eliminating storage for jugs opens up space for more useful purposes.

3. Health and Safety Benefits

Bottleless systems improve water quality and reduce workplace injuries by eliminating the need to store, transport, and replace heavy jugs.

Traditional jug water is often stored for weeks at a time, moving from warehouses to delivery trucks to office storage rooms. During this process, jugs are exposed to varying temperatures, light, and handling that can affect both taste and quality. By contrast, bottleless coolers filter tap water on demand, ensuring everyone gets clean, fresh water every time they fill a glass.

Many bottleless systems include multi-stage filtration technologies such as:

• Carbon filters to improve taste and remove chlorine
• Reverse osmosis to eliminate contaminants like lead or sediment
• UV purification to neutralize bacteria and viruses

This means businesses can provide water that is consistently high-quality, without relying on external suppliers or worrying about how long jugs have been sitting in storage.

Health and safety also extend to the physical demands of managing jugs. Lifting and maneuvering 40-pound bottles is one of the most common sources of back strain in the workplace. Even a small slip can lead to injuries, spills, and costly workers’ compensation claims. Eliminating bottles removes this hazard entirely, creating a safer environment for your team and reducing liability risks for employers.

4. Environmental Advantages

Switching to bottleless water coolers helps businesses reduce plastic waste and cut carbon emissions from water delivery trucks.

While traditional jugs can be reused several times, they don’t last forever. After a certain number of refill cycles, they’re taken out of rotation and thrown away. Over time, this adds up to a large amount of plastic that still ends up as waste. Bottleless coolers avoid the issue completely by removing bottles from the process.

Delivery also has an environmental cost. Trucks making regular rounds to drop off and collect jugs use fuel and add to carbon emissions. By switching to a system that connects directly to the water line, companies remove the need for those deliveries and reduce their footprint in the process.

For businesses that are working toward sustainability goals, bottleless coolers provide a clear, practical way to cut waste and lower emissions without adding extra effort.

5. Modern Features and Technology

Bottleless water coolers offer advanced features that improve workplace hygiene, provide variety, and blend seamlessly with modern office design.

Today’s coolers bring new conveniences that jug systems can’t match. Most units provide hot and cold water instantly, but many also include:

• Sparkling water options for employees who prefer carbonation
• Touchless dispensing to reduce shared surface contact and improve hygiene
• Smart monitoring systems that send alerts when filters need replacement

Many bottleless coolers are designed to fit naturally into modern office layouts. They’re compact and remove the clutter that comes with jug storage. Adding a bottleless cooler is a practical way to improve an office environment without adding extra cost or complexity.

6. Scalability and Flexibility

Bottleless coolers scale with business growth and changing office layouts, unlike jug delivery systems that require ongoing scheduling and bottle tracking.

A jug delivery system forces businesses to estimate usage, adjust delivery schedules, and monitor inventory to ensure enough supply is on hand. This often leads to either over-ordering or shortages. Bottleless coolers remove the guesswork by providing a consistent, on-demand supply of water.

Whether an office has 10 employees or 1,000, the system adapts to demand without requiring changes to delivery routes or storage planning. Growing companies can add units in different departments, floors, or even new office locations without changing their water provider.

This scalability makes bottleless coolers a future-proof investment. As companies expand, downsize, or relocate, their water solution can adjust right alongside them, without the logistical headaches of traditional jug service.

Why More Businesses Are Making the Switch

Switching from water jugs to a bottleless cooler is a practical move for many workplaces. It lowers costs, reduces waste, improves safety, and avoids the ongoing hassle of managing deliveries.

For a lot of companies, the choice comes down to simple questions: why keep paying for repeated deliveries, giving up storage space for bottles, and asking employees to lift heavy jugs when there’s a cleaner and easier option?

A bottleless system solves those problems all at once. It provides clean water on demand, takes up less space, and keeps expenses predictable. That’s why more businesses are choosing to leave jug service behind.

About Us

Pure Water of Western and Central New York has proudly served over 1,000 customers with high-quality water and ice purification systems since 2008. As a locally owned, family-run business, we take pride in building lasting relationships with the communities we serve. Our commitment to clean, great-tasting water and outstanding service has earned us national recognition, including multiple awards from Wellsys for top-tier performance. As a certified MWBE (Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise) and a supporter of Cradle Beach—an organization dedicated to providing memorable experiences for children with disabilities and special needs—we’re passionate about promoting inclusion, giving back to our community, and delivering environmentally responsible solutions that make a difference every day.