The short answer: For most permanent warehouses, a purified Refill Station is the strongest option.
- It purifies water on site, seconds before the pour.
- It keeps chilled water ready for back-to-back fills.
- It takes jugs, cases and delivery schedules off your floor.
It also wins on the two things that decide whether people actually drink: trust and taste. Among FloWater customers surveyed by Drive Research, 88% trust FloWater to provide clean, safe drinking water. That compares with 60% for bottled water and 36% for water fountains.
Bottled water still makes sense for sites without plumbing. Fountains work as code-required backup. For the daily hydration of a working crew, though, the purified Refill Station comes out ahead.
Side-by-side: how the three options compare
The three options differ most on where the water is purified, how cold it stays and what they ask of your floor space.
| Bottled water (cases or 5-gallon jugs) | Water fountain or bottle filler | Purified Refill Station | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it’s purified | At a bottling plant, days or weeks before you drink it | Usually a single carbon filter, if any | On site, seconds before the pour, with 7x Advanced Purification |
| Trust (FloWater customers, Drive Research) | 60% trust it | 36% trust it | 88% trust FloWater |
| Cold water on demand | Only if coolers are stocked and cold | Varies; many run near room temperature | Classic keeps 2 gallons chilled to 32.9°F–35.6°F, fed by a 5-gallon reserve |
| Fill speed | Fast per bottle, until the supply runs out | Often a slow trickle | About 10 seconds for a 24 oz bottle |
| Storage and handling | Pallet space for cases and jugs; someone lifts and swaps them | None | None; free-standing on Power/Water/Drain |
| Plastic waste | Ongoing bottles and jugs | None | None; workers refill their own bottles |
| Cost model | Recurring per case, per jug and per delivery | Low once plumbed | Fixed rental or purchase; filters replaced at least every 12 months |
| Best fit | Temporary sites or sites without plumbing | Code-required backup and quick sips | Permanent sites where crews drink all shift |
The trust gap is the number to watch. A water source people don’t trust is one they skip, and on a hot floor that becomes a heat-safety problem.
Trust and taste: why people drink more from one source than another
People drink the water they trust and like. Drive Research surveyed 420 FloWater customers and asked them to rate each water source they use.
| Statement | % strongly or somewhat agree |
|---|---|
| I trust FloWater to provide clean and safe drinking water | 88% |
| I trust bottled water to provide clean and safe drinking water | 60% |
| I trust a water fountain to provide clean and safe drinking water | 36% |
| I trust my tap water to provide clean and safe drinking water | 30% |
Taste follows the same pattern:
- 86% of FloWater customers say it tastes better than tap water.
- 75% say it tastes better than bottled water.
Put another way, customers were nearly 2.5 times more likely to trust FloWater than a water fountain. They were close to 3 times more likely to trust it than tap water.
That gap shows up in behavior too. 60% of customers said their staff drink more water since having FloWater.
Why people choose each water source
People use bottle filling stations for quality. They use fountains and bottled water mostly for convenience. Mindsight asked 553 U.S. adults who use refillable bottles why they get water from each source.
| Reason (% selecting) | Bottle filling stations | Water coolers | Water fountains | Bottled water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| It’s cleaner than tap water | 35% | 30% | 17% | 33% |
| It tastes better than tap water | 33% | 30% | 17% | 33% |
| I ran out of the water I brought from home | 31% | 28% | 26% | 22% |
| It’s more sustainable than buying bottled water | 28% | 21% | 16% | 11% |
| It’s the most convenient option | 27% | 33% | 38% | 38% |
| I forgot my refillable bottle at home | 9% | 14% | 26% | 25% |
Three takeaways for a warehouse:
- Fountains are a fallback, not a choice. Only 17% use them because the water is cleaner or tastes better. They’re used mostly because they’re there.
- Bottled water is often a backup for a forgotten bottle. 25% reach for it because they left their own bottle at home, which adds cost and plastic every shift.
- Filling stations win on the reasons that drive repeat use. They lead on cleanliness, taste and sustainability, and they’re the top choice for people refilling mid-shift.
The workplace is also where this happens most. 51% of refillable bottle users say they use bottle filling stations at the office or workplace, more than anywhere else.
The cost of bottled water in a warehouse: a FedEx example
Bottled water looks cheap per bottle and expensive per year. FedEx’s Corpus Christi, TX distribution center shows how quickly it adds up.
Before (bottled water and 5-gallon jugs):
- About $3,000 a month on bottled water and jugs, including delivery and storage.
- Roughly 2,500–3,500 plastic bottles used every month.
- Discarded, half-full bottles on the floor created a tripping hazard.
- Employees said the jug water tasted bad, so many didn’t drink enough in the South Texas heat.
- The team considered adding electrolyte drink packets at $1.25 per employee per day, which would have raised costs further.
After (five purified Refill Stations):
| Result | Impact |
|---|---|
| Annual hydration cost savings | $27,000 at this one location |
| Plastic bottles avoided in one month (Sept 26 – Oct 28) | 6,800 |
| Dispense speed | 1 gallon per minute |
Because the FloWater Refill Stations add electrolytes, alkalinity and trace minerals to the water, the team had an alternative to buying drink packets.
“Staff enjoys the taste of the water and we never have to worry about running low on water or having to carry and change water jugs.”
Joe Doria, FedEx Facilities
When each option makes sense
Each option has a place. The right choice depends on your site, how long you’ll be there and how hard your crew works.
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent warehouse or distribution center with multiple shifts | FloWater Purified Refill Station | Chilled water on demand, on-site purification and no jugs or cases to manage |
| Hot floor, heavy physical work | FloWater Purified Refill Station, placed on the floor and near docks | Cold, great-tasting water close to the work is what people actually drink |
| Temporary site, pop-up or seasonal overflow space with no plumbing | Bottled water or jug delivery | Needs no water line; plan for storage space and restocking |
| Building code requires drinking fountains | Keep fountains as backup; add a FloWater Refill Station for daily hydration | Fountains meet code; most people don’t choose them for quality |
| Office area inside the warehouse | FloWater Purified Refill Station | Same trust and taste advantage, so one approach covers the whole site |
Many warehouses end up with a mix: FloWater Refill Stations where people work, and existing fountains left in place as backup.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best drinking water solution for a warehouse?
For a permanent site, a purified FloWater Refill Station. It purifies on site, keeps chilled water ready and removes jug and case handling. Among FloWater customers, 88% trust it to provide clean, safe water, compared with 60% for bottled water and 36% for fountains (Drive Research).
Water cooler vs. bottle filling station: which is better for a warehouse?
It depends on how the water is purified and how fast it fills. Mindsight found people choose bottle filling stations more for cleanliness (35% vs. 30%) and sustainability (28% vs. 21%). A purified Refill Station combines both: purified, chilled water and a fast bottle fill, about 10 seconds for 24 oz on the Classic.
What is the best alternative to 5-gallon water jug delivery?
A plumbed, purified FloWater Refill Station. It runs on Power/Water/Drain lines, so there are no deliveries, no jug storage and no lifting. FedEx’s Corpus Christi distribution center replaced jugs and bottled water with five Refill Stations and cut hydration costs by $27,000 a year.
Is bottled water safer than a water fountain?
People trust it more: 60% vs. 36% among FloWater customers. But bottled water is purified at a plant well before it’s opened. A FloWater Refill Station purifies at the point of dispense with 7x Advanced Purification, and 88% of customers trust it.
How many Refill Stations does a warehouse need?
It depends on headcount, shifts and floor layout. FedEx started with one FloWater Refill Station on a two-week trial, then added four more in high-traffic areas. A placement walk-through is the fastest way to size it.
Do water fountains meet the need for heat safety?
They provide access, but people rarely choose them. Only 17% of refillable bottle users say they use fountains because the water is cleaner than tap (Mindsight). OSHA guidance stresses easy access to cool drinking water. Water that’s cold, close by and trusted is water people actually drink.
Related: Switching Water Providers: What to Look For in a Warehouse Water Service
See how a Refill Station fits your floor. Get a quote for your warehouse.
Sources and methodology
- Drive Research, FloWater Customer Survey (February 2025). Online survey of 420 FloWater customers, fielded January 17 to February 7, 2025. Margin of error ±5% at 95% confidence. Commissioned by FloWater.
- Mindsight, FloWater Brand Opportunity Concept Test (August 2025). Online monadic concept test of 553 U.S. refillable water bottle users aged 25–60. Reasons-for-use data (Q32) reflects all respondents. Commissioned by FloWater.
- FloWater, FedEx Distribution Center Case Study, Corpus Christi, TX. [VERIFY: publication year]
- U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Heat — Water. Rest. Shade.
- Product specifications: FloWater Classic Refill Station, factory defaults.
