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Water.

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World Water Day 2019 - Leaving no one behind

Water Purification

Water purification is a process that aims at removing undesired chemical impurities including organic and inorganic elements as well as biological contaminants. Water purification process removes these impurities from raw water to produce drinking water of adequate quality. In `other words, Water purification produces water pure enough for human consumption and industrial use. The process of water purification also removes or reduces the concentration of suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, viruses, fungi algae and man-made chemical pollutants. Water purification helps in improving the smell, taste and appearance of water. The needs of medical, pharmacological, industrial and chemical applications are met by water purification. Water purification process takes places both at the individual and community level. It is not possible to tell whether water is safe to drink just by looking at it, therefore it is always advisable to channel water through the water purification process before it is made available as drinking water. Before performing the water purification process, the raw water should be tested so as to determine the kind of water purification process that is required.

A point of use water purification system comprises 5 water purification stages. The first step of the water purification stages involves Sediment Filter that removes the solid substances like sand and metals present in the water. The second step of the five water purification stages involves Pre-Carbon Water Filter that deals with most of the chemical contaminants found in the water like pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, lead, aluminium etc. The Activated Carbon Block removes particulate, taste and odour present in the water. The third step of the water purification stages involves the Reverse Osmosis membrane. Being a semi-permeable membrane, it typically allows only particles of a size smaller than .0005 microns to pass through. The fourth step of the water purification stages consists of Post Carbon Water Filter. The water passes through this filter only when the faucet of the pressurized tank is opened. The coconut shell activated carbon provides quality improvement services to the water by removing any colour, taste and odour that might have been left behind. The final step of the water purification stages involves UV Germ Guardian that helps in killing germs and viruses. Since the water purification process is based on the purity level of backend water supply, installing UV Germ Guardian is optional. It also implies that the number of steps in the water purification stages depends on the quality of water to be treated. Therefore, it is advisable to test the quality of raw water before steering it towards the water purification process.

Burgeoning commercial activities and deteriorating state of water due to pollution, inefficient waste disposal, plastic contamination etc. has generated ample demand for water purifiers in India. Increasing awareness about health and lifestyle along with intense marketing campaigns by water purification companies have swollen up the demand for water purifiers in India manifold. Multiple brands of water purification companies are involved in a cut-throat competition to lead the market of water purifiers in India. The water purification companies sway customers on the basis of varied features of water purifiers in India. Features like Reverse Osmosis technology, purification and chilling capacity, mineral fortification, types of filters and the sustainability aspect of water purifiers in India are used to attract the customers. Different technologies and a wide array of water purifiers in India have increased the complexity of buying an ideal water purification system.

While there are many popular water purifier manufacturers in India, it is important for an organization to choose a water purification system that suits their needs. Before deciding which water purifier in India to opt for, few parameters have to be taken care of. First is the quality of water supplied by the municipal agency in the area. Second is the RO rejection rate as it varies from one water purification system to another. The number of employees in the organization determines the storage capacity of water purification systems as the water purifiers in India come with different storage capacities. Commercial water purification systems come with higher storage capacity than household water purification systems. Also, organizations established in a place with frequent electrical outage would require water purification systems with higher storage capacity. This is because the water purification process begins when the water level decline in the storage tank.

Most water purifier manufacturers in India offer maintenance and after-sales support. The organizations can look for Fail Safety Mechanism for an ideal water purification system. IoT (Internet of Things) enabled water purifiers in India would be a smart choice in the era of Artificial Intelligence. Reputed water purification brands offer free installation and at least one-year manufacture warranty. Therefore, before buying a water purification system, especially online, the organization needs to check the installation and warranty details. The water purifiers in India come with fancy certifications like ISI, CE, NSF, WQA etc. Water purifiers in India that are honoured with green certifications are preferred by the eco-conscious customers. The commercial water purification systems indirectly contribute to the elimination of carbon and plastic footprint as the organizations are able to cut back on the bottled water consumption to a large extent.

An organization’s responsibility to provide adequate basic amenities to its people calls for installing efficient water purification systems. The water purification systems should be within the reach of the employees making it convenient to meet their hydration needs conveniently. The commercial water purification systems discourage the use of plastic water cans that are so indiscriminately bought by the organizations. The bottled water has nothing but harrowing consequence on human beings and the environment as a whole. The water purification systems are sustainable, unlike bottled water which tags along inexhaustible environmental impact.

Therefore, the organizations ought to understand the importance of plastic-free hydration solutions and install point of use water purification systems as they have become one of the standard parameters for responsible facility management. An organization is instrumental in bringing change in the society. By accepting water purification systems and eliminating bottled water usage, it can encourage an environmentally responsible behaviour.

Drinking water fountains

Water Refill stations

#drinkingwaterfountains

The concept of drinking water fountain is new to India, albeit it’s catching up fast in public places, especially in metro cities. This piece of information will apprise readers about basic aspects of current drinking water fountains technology and identify features that can help ensure their quality, convenience, and reliability. Ultimately, these features can help increase public confidence and access to convenient water sources. Schools, hospitals, and other entities managing public spaces can offer drinking water fountains with many available options, including vandal resistance, refrigeration, bottle filling, and filtration. Extremely durable cast iron drinking water fountains can withstand harsh weather, but are not appropriate for high-moisture environment as they are prone to rusting. Stainless steel fountains are more suitable in such cases; in fact, they are one of the most popular drinking water fountain types due to minimal maintenance needs and low cost. Vandal-resistant fountains are a great fit for high-traffic areas as they are equipped with heavy-duty parts such as galvanized frames and steel cabinets, which protect against damage and wear. Other drinking water fountain features can be added to cater to users’ needs. Fountain bubblers (or spouts) vary from the very basic, such as a spigot, to the much more advanced. The most common is the arc bubbler, which is equipped with a mouth guard to prevent direct contact. The most notable improvement in drinking water fountains in recent years has been the bottle filling option due to the proliferation of refillable bottles, the ease of use of these stations, and less perceived risk of contamination. At these stations, users can rapidly fill up their personal bottles, and then the water will automatically shut off to prevent waste. Bottle fillers can be installed as standalone stations, as attachments to existing fountains, or as models that come with a drinking fountain. Many of these bottle filling stations include a digital display showing the number of disposable plastic bottles saved from landfills. Water chilling is another feature that makes modern fountains attractive to users. Chilling is typically available for indoor units where they can be connected to an electrical supply. Some drinking water fountains have built-in chillers, but existing non-refrigerated fountains can also be retrofitted with remote chillers. Alternatively, ice-chilled models or drinking fountains equipped with solar power systems can be used in areas that lack access to a power supply. Most fountains can dispense up to 25 liters of chilled water per hour, but in high-traffic areas, a fountain should be able to dispense at least 30 liters of chilled water per hour.

#Drinking water fountains

#drinkingwaterfountains

Digging out the relics from the past, we would find that the drinking water fountains originated in the ancient Greek cities. There, they were a public necessity and their water tasted of civilization. The concept soon spread its wings across Britain and the United States of America where it went through certain adornments including slanted jets, filters, chlorination and regular fountain maintenance. Population upsurge and spreading out of cities called for more public water systems and water treatment technologies which expedited the eminence of public drinking fountains. All over the years, they have crawled their way up and over the impediments caused by commercial bottled water. Their presence makes us believe that water is still a public resource and its availability in a salubrious form is a right of every living being on Earth. National Water Policy (2012) of Government of India says, "Water needs to be managed as a community resource held, by the state, under public trust doctrine to achieve food security, livelihood, and equitable and sustainable development for all" A country should not be deemed civilized if it doesn't provide its people with universal, clean and free drinking water! As a matter of fact, drinking water fountains serve the purpose of making potable community water available ubiquitously. What are Drinking Water Fountains? It is a Point of Use hydration water technology which aims to dispense purified and disinfected water when integrated with a purification system. It also comes with refrigeration and vandal resistance features. Drinking fountains can be installed indoors as well as outdoors. Outside, additional adaptations are used like exposed aggregate finishes, cast iron manufacture, stainless steel finishing or furnishing with heavy duty parts such as galvanized frames and steel cabinets. Therefore, their versatility seems palpable as they can camouflage themselves to adapt to harsh weathers, high moisture environment or freezing regions. Indoor drinking water fountains have a robust and sturdy construction with a sophisticated configuration. Wall mounted drinking water fountains revamp the private and semi-private spaces. Peering down inside the contoured shell of water fountain reminiscences the era of the 1850's when the great "Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association of England" opened London's first free drinking water fountain subsequently providing water to over 7000 people per day. It brought clean drinking water closer to the poor and other urban residents. The belief was that the clean, cold drinking water would wash away their alcohol consumption habit. Especially in a city, drinking fountains are mediums which connect us to nature through concealed sources of water just like springs in the picturesque environmental landscapes. Zooming-in on the features of Drinking Water Fountains Then and Now Erstwhile public drinking fountains were installed as "scenes of public rejoicing"; the water flow was always ON as its purpose was ornamental along with quenching of public thirst. These days, push-button operated drinking fountains are most common as they aid in conserving water and also allow time for refrigeration. The latest have sensor technology especially in bottle filling variants. Most of them come with a chilling feature wherein water passes through refrigerated coils before dispensing. The contemporary freeze-proof drinking fountains attest their long-standing reign in the extreme cold conditions. The public artefact once now has turned into a digital genius when attached with bottle fillers. Drinking fountain with bottle filler displays the real-time number of the plastic bottles avoided, consequently steering a course to environmental sustainability. They provide a zero-calorie drink to pedestrians, tourists, children etc. on the go. A long swig at the spout or water bottle fill up, the choice is yours! Indian Water Law Historically, water-based statutory laws were community-based in India. After colonization, the meddling state later made water legislations with the intention of generating revenue. No legal checks were framed on the quality of drinking water and sanitation or prevention of pollution. Contemporarily, Article 47 of the Constitution of India mentions that it is the responsibility of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health. It makes it mandatory for the government to provide access to clean and free drinking water to all the citizens. Not only that, the court observed under Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar that Right to live is a fundamental right under Art 21 of the Constitution and it includes the right of enjoyment of pollution free water and air for full enjoyment of life. Drinking Water Fountains advocate ‘Water for All' According to a Research (2015) which analyzed children's beverage consumption using representative data from India's National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-3, 2005–2006), "about 13 million Indian children aged 6–59 months did not drink water in the past 24 h. Among those who did not have water, roughly one-quarter consumed liquids other than breast or fresh milk, including juice and tea/coffee". In India, public water drinking provisions include taps, hand-pumps, wells, tankers or charity-driven water coolers and dispensers. Such dispensers usually have a glass attached with the metal chain or go along with few plastic glasses that are simply rinsed with water after use. People also have a habit of drinking from cupped hands. The state of sanitation of most of the public water arrangements is quite distressing. Those who have an idea about public drinking fountains are apprehensive about people using their pathogen-packed mouth to directly slurp water from the spout. The ‘jhootha' taboo crawls over the other aforementioned drinking water measures. What do many people do then? Buy bottled water. Yes, they pay for the supposedly free natural resource. Even then, health hazards in the form of seeping microplastics don't leave them alone. Drinkable water fountains in the developing countries like India are at an infant stage. For those who don't know, the public water fountains are a perfect solution to water accessibility and sanitation concerns. Even in the developed countries, the idea is reviving yet again to curtail the ‘Pay and gulp' trend. Imagine how effective it could be in curbing the prevailing cavalcade of soda or fizzy drinks, bottled water, flavoured liquids and packaged juices! Water is a life-giving liquid; the importance of water is inconceivable and ineffable. The dire thirst can make people drink from the extreme and dirtiest water sources. The little that a State can do is make water affordable, accessible and potable through Drinking Water Fountains.

“Explore this next great frontier where the boundaries between work and higher purpose are merging into one, where doing good really is good for business” – Richard Branson The European Commission defines CSR as “the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society”. A business is a separate entity. Its activities have a huge impact on the environment and society. The potential is such that a small decision could have overarching implications on the surrounding environment. The business can base its CSR program on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach. As per Investopedia, TBL is the idea that it is possible to run an organization in a way that not only earns financial profits but also betters people’s lives and helps the planet. The elements of the triple bottom line are referred to as "people, profits and planet." People + Planet = Social + Environmental Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility and water refill stations have inherent compatibility because water refill stations originated from altruistic brains. Their prime purpose is to eliminate carbon and plastic footprint by providing ‘bottled water’ free hydration solution. There are many CSR practices pursued by a business. Since these have a societal outlook, the organizations sometimes ignore the most vital stakeholders – the employees. Essentially, CSR starts from them and then branch out to the rest of the business environment. India was the first country to make landmark legislation under the Companies Act, 2013 to mandate and qualify CSR expenditure. CSR should be a critical component to an organization’s operating ethos, its ideology, its values and its purpose. It is not a denouement in itself but a way to run a business. It’s an integral part of the business journey and daily operations which principally focuses on the long-term value creation. The facility manager who follows this approach needs to consider the social and environmental areas while making investing and business decisions, in addition to the economic perspective. “The perspective taken is that for an organization to be sustainable, it must be financially secure, minimize (or ideally eliminate) its negative environmental impacts and act in conformity with societal expectations” (United Nations Industrial Development Organization). The organization by adopting water-refill stations would be able to reduce a considerable amount of carbon footprint by eliminating the use of fossil-fuel dependent plastic bottles. In addition to reducing plastic, water refill stations with smart energy saving feature and green certifications are eco-efficient in every aspect. The count of plastic bottles avoided with each refill is displayed on the screen on the water-refill stations. This makes it easy to quantify the environmental impact of the business while formulating Triple Bottom Line. Water Refill Stations at the workplace An employee normally spends 9 hours at his place of work. Evidently, an adequate hydration system holds vital importance at the workplace. Staying hydrated works the way any non-monetary incentive drives people to perform. On the contrary, dehydration disguises itself in bad behaviour, lack of concentration and inefficient performance of employees. By far, the only handful would be oblivious to the harms of plastic. For executives who advocate ‘No Plastic’ idea at the business conferences, the bulk-buying of single-use plastic cans for their own offices has to be outrageously paradoxical! They need to be ecologically-sensitized while implementing the hydration solutions. Solution? Very simple. Install water-refill stations at accessible locations in the office. It would deliver an incessant water supply while reducing the plastic-footprint. Reducing plastic through change management As we know that any organization is a group of people working together to achieve a particular purpose. Collective goal directs them to a riveted interrelationship. Behind this formal organizational structure, there is a shadow of informal communication pattern. It leads us to the idea that any change triggered from the top level of management would trickle down through the organizational structure via formal and informal communication channels. Therefore, if we wish to bring change in the society, starting it from an organization would have a domino effect on all the employees. It would gradually branch to their families and so on. Imbibing a ‘plastic-free’ hydration habit in the organizational culture is simple. Encourage the employees to bring small, compact, reusable bottles to work that could be refilled multiple times from a water-refill station. The managers could begin with gifting re-usable bottles to the employees which could be kept at the workplace itself. The workers could then permanently strikethrough the task of carrying water bottle every day from their to-do list. The long-term cost of reusable bottles to the organization along with the water-refill stations would still be lesser than the cumulative recurring expenses on the plastic cans. Triple Bottom Line approach leads to high performance Installing Water refill stations while focusing on Triple Bottom Line can help the organizations develop goodwill in the society. A company that has a good public image attracts and retains valuable, thoughtful and dedicated employees. Nearly 60% of the employees who are proud of their company’s social responsibility are engaged in their jobs. A philanthropically minded corporation yields better performance and employee engagement. “A 2015 study by the Kenexa High-Performance Institute in London (a division of Kenexa, a global provider of business solutions for human resources) found that organisations that had a genuine commitment to CSR substantially outperformed those that did not, with an average return on assets 19 times higher.” (FinancierWorldwide) Achieve TBL through Water Refill Stations Water refill stations fit perfectly well in the environmental sustainability domain of business. When integrated with 5-stage purification system they dispense contaminant –free pure water. They are aesthetically appealing and can be mounted on the office walls giving them a sophisticated look. Designer aluminium and stainless steel bottles match with the suave workplace ambience. But sometimes, the idea of CSR goes in vain when few companies adopt it as a marketing gimmick. They use CSR to disguise their misleading activities in the name of environmental sustenance. ‘Greenwashing’ is not a newfangled concept. The companies make unsubstantiated claims about the eco-efficiency of their product, service or technology in order to reap the benefits of CSR and enhance the goodwill of the business. Water Refill stations on the other hand encompass Quality Management, Occupational Health and safety, Environmental Management and Energy Management Certifications. Therefore, this hydration solution at the workplace automatically hits the Triple Bottom Line. In today’s world, people are particularly tech-savvy. It takes a click to dig out the ethical records and labour practices of any business. This burgeoning generation does not prefer to be associated with the companies that desert themselves from the business environment, not taking responsibility for their deeds on the world at large. It’s important for the business to imbibe sustainable technologies like water-refill stations into their business goal. Social responsibility is not a business strategy; it’s the soul of the business.

Drinking Water Fountain

A drinking water fountain is a point of use water technology designed to dispense pure drinking water when integrated with a purification mechanism. Drinking water fountains in India are equipped with features like refrigeration, vandal resistance, corrosion free exteriors etc. Since the drinking water fountains are vandal resistant, drinking water fountains can be used indoors as well as outdoors. For outdoors, drinking fountains are fortified with galvanized frames, cast iron manufacture, stainless steel finishing and steel cabinets. Stainless steel drinking water fountains are the most durable as they are not prone to rust and are of low cost. Indoors, wall mounted drinking water fountains are popular as their sophisticated configuration revamp the private spaces. For extra durability and maintenance ease, drinking water fountains are equipped with rectangular bowls.

A drinking water fountain comes with the different styles of bubblers. In the beginning, drinking water fountains showcased scenes of public rejoicing, therefore, had continuous water flow from the faucet. Nowadays, there are push-button operated faucets which embolden water conservation habit among the public. The mechanical push bar of drinking fountains provides uninterrupted water even without electrical service. For convenience in drinking, drinking water fountains are equipped with an arc bubbler, the angle of which makes it easy to direct the flow of water accordingly. In order to prevent direct contact and keep the equipment hygienic, a mouth guard is attached to the bubbler. The laminar flow from the drinking water fountain faucet helps prevent splashing.

Drinking water fountains can be installed at schools, colleges, business spaces, airports, gardens, recreational centres etc. The all-encompassing feature of the drinking fountain is displayed from the Hi-Low bubbler faucets erected at two different heights for adults as well as children. Drinking water fountain in India is also ADA compliant making it accessible for all. The recent addition to the drinking water fountains is the option of bottle filling. The bottle fillers are attached with drinking water fountains to refill reusable bottles. These bottle fillers are digitally equipped with a real-time display of disposable bottles avoided with every refill of a reusable bottle.

Drinking water fountain in India is a sustainable supplement to the public water systems. The public utilities of drinking water include taps, wells, hand-pumps, water coolers and dispensers. The sanitation aspect brings about a huge difference in the drinking water fountain technology and other Indian public utilities. Drinking fountains are touch-free and corrosion-resistant, making them a free and hygienic source of drinking water.

The concept of drinking fountains is new in India but the idea behind it fits well in the Indian societal and environmental landscape. Drinking water fountains equipped with purification mechanism and installed at public spaces satisfy the water-related Indian laws which make the government accountable for providing access to clean drinking water to all the citizens. Art 21 of the Constitution of India includes the right of enjoyment of pollution free water and air. Various organizations, airports and offices have begun installing drinking water fountains in India. As responsible civilians, we need to understand the purpose and importance of drinking fountains and the reason behind its prevailing popularity in the developed nations.

Drinking water fountains come with various variants like standalone, wall mounted, well mounted-recessed along with different styles of bubblers. Some drinking water fountains come along with a chiller and some can be attached with one. Even a purification system can be integrated with the drinking fountains as and when required. The drinking fountains commonly dispense up to 25 litres per hour but are also available with the dispensing capacity of at least 30 litres of chilled water per hour, especially for the places with high footfall.

Drinking water fountains will help to eradicate the ‘Use and Throw’ trend that is particularly popularized by disposable water bottles. These bottles are made of plastic due to its convenient to use and handle attributes. But, the plastic has harrowing biological and ecological implications. The microplastics in the plastic bottle leach into the water and eventually into the human body. On the other hand, plastic cast-off is non-degradable and causes land pollution besides choking marine animals to death! The drinking water fountain is, therefore, a sustainable water technology that discourages the use of disposable plastic bottles among the public. Drinking fountains also encourage communal drinking habit encouraging ‘water for all’, unlike costly plastic bottles that the unprivileged people can’t afford to buy.

Therefore, a drinking water fountain is the most viable public drinking hydration system. The organizations and institutes in any country are inherently capable of igniting a societal change. It is the responsibility of the people occupying decision-making positions in the organizational hierarchy of any government or private organization to initiate a behavioural change among employees so as to channel them towards sustainable lifestyle solutions. Installing drinking water fountains and consequently avoiding innumerable disposable plastic bottles would steer us towards a sustainable tomorrow!

#drinkingwaterfountain #waterfountain

WAE Corp | Water Refill Stations

#waterrefillstations #waterpurification #hydrationsolution

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