6 benefits of water coolers for leisure centres
When it comes to leisure centres, like gyms, after-school clubs, swimming centres, and dance studios, owners have a duty to look after the well-being of their customers.
Since water is the key to staying healthy and safe when exercising, placing a water cooler in the building brings more benefits than one might think. Some may say that a well-placed, high-quality water cooler plays a significant role in a gym-goer’s performance and safety.
Today, we’ll look at all the benefits of water coolers for leisure centres and how they can completely transform the atmosphere and functionality of any shared space.
1. Improves physical performance
The most obvious and important benefit of placing a water fountain in a leisure centre is keeping customers hydrated.
When exercising, you lose a lot of natural body water through sweating, so it’s important to replenish it while working out. A water cooler can serve as both a reminder to hydrate and a backup for those who have come without a full water bottle.
That way, the body will be able to keep up with any strenuous activity.
2. Supports a safer environment
Linking to the previous point, high levels of hydration are important not just for how well you perform moves and positions, but also for the overall functionality of muscles, organs, and joints.
Failing to drink enough water while exercising can lead to dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, and heat exhaustion. Pushing the body too much without replenishing water loss puts customers at risk of fainting, injury, and other health-related issues.
Water coolers act as a preventive measure, providing access to natural spring water free from additives and grime from pipes and taps.
3. Encourages reusable bottles and cuts single-use plastic
If there aren’t any easily accessible water stations for customers to fill up their water bottles, many may turn to buying drinks in single-use plastic bottles.
More plastic waste leads to a larger carbon footprint and to a gym that promotes harmful habits for the planet. Making a simple switch today to water coolers instead of vending machines or grimy taps will encourage many people to bring their own reusable bottles.
4. Gives customers more for their money
If you’re paying for a gym or dance membership or a swimming pass, add-ons such as a water cooler make it feel worth it.
When you have to turn to a vending machine for a drink, you can feel like you’re being cheated out of money (especially when prices are high). While taps are mostly available, many people view tap water as unhygienic.
Provide a clean, stylish water cooler and place it next to high-traffic areas, and you’re already making your leisure centre feel more luxurious and customer-centred. That way, everyone is happy!
5. Creates a social zone
Sure, a lot of people go to the gym hoping to keep to themselves and avoid interacting with anyone.
But place a water cooler in the corner of a leisure centre, and you’ve created a natural gathering point where people can make small talk. Features like this provide an easy, polite way to make small talk and approach others without encroaching on their workouts.
Better yet, if it’s an after-school club or a community centre, it gives those looking to meet new people a way in that’s less anxiety-inducing than approaching someone up-front.
6. Creates a more convenient workout routine
Let’s face it, walking to a kitchen area that’s all the way across the gym, away from the equipment, disrupts motivation.
Taking them away from that room and mind zone may give customers time to decide to quit their workout. Plus, if you know you have to walk up or down flights of stairs or go into another room, you may avoid hydrating altogether to save yourself the hassle.
This can lead to unhealthy gym habits as customers are diminishing hydration altogether. If no taps are available at all, many customers will have to leave the facility to go to the shop, adding more time onto their visit.
Is it against the law not to have a water cooler in a leisure centre?
No, it’s not against the law to fail to provide a water cooler in a gym, dance studio, or leisure centre. But it is a disservice to your customers.
While there’s no law requiring an unlicensed premises, e.g., a gym or leisure centre, to provide free drinking water to customers, many see it as a key component of safe exercise.
Yes, gym-goers can and do bring their own water bottles, but once they’re drained, it’s good to have a backup. After all, these small details show your customers that you care about the little things, and they can have more sway over whether a customer comes back than you think.
Which type of water dispenser is best for leisure centres?
When it comes to leisure centres, you want a water cooler that is compact and hygienic yet can dispense enough water to accommodate a large number of customers.
For this reason, a mains-fed water dispenser is your best bet. These connect directly to your mains supply and are fitted with high-quality filters to deliver clean, fresh water daily. Since this is a permanent solution, you won’t have to deal with any water refills or replacement costs.
Plus, no replacement bottles means no plastic waste!
Choose us for leisure centre water coolers today
Are you looking to improve your customers’ experience or simply gain a competitive edge in a large industry? With our leisure centre water coolers, you can do just that.
Modern, compact, and stylish, our water coolers are built for high-traffic use and blend in brilliantly with any interior. Place it next to a customer service desk or right next to the equipment so customers can find it easily.
Once installed, you can enjoy a well-functioning leisure centre that keeps gym-goers hydrated, safe, and satisfied. Psst, we also offer a free 14-day trial so you can try before you buy.