03/01/2019

Drinking water system accreditations you need to know

Choosing a high-performance drinking water system has never been more important – utilising office space in the most efficient way and ensuring staff stay hydrated is a top priority for many businesses. So, what should you look out for when specifying a drinking water solution, to make sure you get it right?

Nowadays tap water and a simple kettle don’t meet the needs of a busy workplace. If you specify the right drinking water system the benefits are clear – employees will be encouraged to keep hydrated, which helps them stay healthy and boosts productivity. Being able to specify a functional, reliable and cost-effective product will give you real peace of mind.

So, how do you find the correct solution that you can trust to deliver clean, safe water in the long term? Looking for products with independent body accreditations is a great place to start. Knowing that the product has been third party tested to achieve these certifications means you can be confident in its performance.

Two essential accreditations to look out for in particular are the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) approval and the NSF International standard.

WRAS approval is accepted as a quality benchmark by water suppliers who enforce the Water Regulations and Byelaws. This approval demonstrates that an item complies with the high standards set out by the 1999 UK Water Regulations and is the best way to ensure a drinking water product has undergone rigorous testing and can be trusted. All Zip Water UK systems are WRAS approved or have approvals pending, so you know that our water drinking systems are fit-for-purpose and will produce high-quality drinking water.

NSF International develops public health certifications that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products and the environment. The Zip HydroTap G4 range, which can deliver instant filtered boiling, chilled and sparkling water, has been tested and approved according to two NSF standards.

Our 0.2 micron MicroPurity filter has been tested and approved according to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53, evaluating the safety and structural integrity of point-of-use / point-of-entry drinking water filtration systems and certifying the health and safety of drinking water.

Combined, these standards signify that Zip drinking water systems are safe and deliver the cleanest, purest tasting, crystal clear water available. Providing great tasting water is incredibly important when encouraging employees to drink more and stay hydrated. Plus, by having advanced filtration, businesses no longer need to spend more constantly stocking up on plastic water bottles – not only expensive, but incredibly damaging to the environment. 

As well as being backed by WRAS and NSF accreditations, the HydroTap range also uses the latest energy efficient technology, so you can be assured that these drinking water systems are good for the planet and the pocket.

Many water delivery systems use excess water during the chilling process – wasting precious water, but the HydroTap’s state-of-the-art cooling technology uses air to avoid this. Other features include Power-Pulse technology, which delivers precise amounts of energy to the heating element, and auto-sleep function, which powers down the unit after a period of inactivity. Both features mean the HydroTap saves energy and is a cost-effective, sustainable option for businesses.

Checking accreditations and energy efficiency is a good place to start when looking to specify a drinking water system, however, don’t forget to also ensure that the system you’re investing in is backed by the right level of support.

Having to worry about essential filter changes, servicing and scale management is less than ideal – so we’ve designed our HydroCare service plan to look after all of this for you. Regular pre-scheduled visits mean you can be sure your Zip HydroTap will stay in peak condition. With more than 90 directly-employed engineers around the UK and Ireland, you can rest assured that support is on hand when you need it.