Wiltshire Council
Like many workplaces, a good cup of tea is a necessity for the staff at Wiltshire Council and, after years of faithful service from their older generation Zip HydroTaps, Wiltshire Council’s drinking stations were due a refresh.
Key architect
Offices & workplaces
Location
Wiltshire
The drinking stations, or ‘tea points’ as they are often referred, are of such importance to staff wellbeing that Philip McMullan, Technical lead / Contract Manager at Wiltshire Council, knew that the drinking water solution required would have to be as reliable, efficient and easy-to-use as the previous HydroTap G3 models. That being the case, upgrading to the latest generation was a fail-safe decision.
The brief
The latest HydroTap G4 delivers instant, highly-filtered boiling and chilled water, assured to keep council staff hydrated all year round. A grand total of 23 Zip HydroTap G4 models were installed in five public authority buildings, of which three are office hubs and two leisure centres. Philip McMullan explains why the Zip refresh was an easy move for the council: “It was just a matter of replacing like-for-like; we knew the last taps had done the job well for a number of years so it made sense to upgrade our HydroTaps with the newer model. The better environmental ratings and improved filtration were a real added bonus.”
Since the installation of the original HydroTaps, the number of council staff has grown considerably and therefore so has the need for instant boiling and chilled water.
The new HydroTaps needed to be capable of servicing around 400 people every day, quickly and efficiently. “These taps are so convenient - kettles simply can’t cut it anymore in a busy workplace. HydroTaps are essential when servicing the volume of staff we have here day-to-day, says Phil.
High capacity wasn’t the only requirement, the new system also had to be sustainable. Wiltshire Council has made a commitment to reduce their carbon footprint and save energy.
The solution
The energy saving credentials that come with a Zip HydroTap help to achieve this goal. Power-Pulse™ technology maintains stored boiling water to within 0.2°C of set temperature so no time and energy is wasted waiting for water to heat. Plus, the pure tasting filtered chilled water gives staff an excuse to avoid bottled water and reduce the output of plastic waste.
As the council’s buildings are situated in a hard water area the need for a system with high performance filtration was much higher. The building’s HydroTap is equipped with a special filter to prevent this damaging limescale build up and increase product longevity.
"Having pre-scheduled filter replacement appointments, and the addition of a Zip Water engineer just a call away if needed, is great."
Philip McMullan - Facilities Manager, Wiltshire Council.
