“Water remains a controversial topic in the education institutes. Balancing consumer perceptions of value between bottled waters, filtered and tap is a challenge, and there is a growing movement across the sector to see water differently. The construction of water wells in developing countries and supporting the accessibility of clean water for all is a growing force for our sector. And, increasingly, operators are looking to their home provision of water and how they are ‘bringing this to the table.”
That’s according to David Smithson of Eau De Vie, the industry’s sustainable water brand, which is seeing an increasing demand for alternative solutions to both tap and bottled waters. Together with Campus Estate magazine, he explores some of the issues that are currently dominating the market.
“Bizarrely, the bottled water market is one of the fastest growing in the world. Britain alone consumes 3 billion litres of water a year and the market in the UK is worth over £1.44 billion. Yet as students feel the pressure of rising fees and spirally debt a revolt against bottled water as a sole solution on campus is rising.
“On campuses, where the perceived value is far less and the sustainability issues are more at the fore of purchasing choice, we are starting to hear from caterers that whilst their conferencing clients are happy to pay for water on tables’ students are seeking out alternatives for on-the-go purposes – single use PET bottles just aren’t considered acceptable any longer.
“Of course, tap water remains an alternative for some consumers and yet there is no question that chlorination affects the taste, but it’s easier said than done to seek out a tap every time you need a drink!”
So – where is the median between the two; is there a solution that saves money, offers consumer value, delivers good margins and fits into existing infrastructure? A big ask it would seem, but clearly not insurmountable as equipment manufacturers answered this call with large scale integrated water systems, which are starting to make appearances at universities across the UK.
“And, it’s no wonder when you consider that producing a litre of filtered water costs approximately 5p, compared to an average of 55p for bottled water. You really don’t need to be a mathematician to see how these two solutions stack up against one another financially!”
“As filtration technology becomes more sophisticated, the quality and taste of water is superb. And yes, it can be delivered at a fraction of the cost – a major plus for university caterers trying to balance making a profit against offering value to a cost-conscious clientele.
“There are also a number of additional cost-saving benefits to be realised in reducing bottled water usage, including potentially huge energy reductions as well as waste management costs of dealing with the both the actual bottle and the packaging that the water will often arrive in. It’s a win-win situation.”
So, why aren’t caterers incorporating filtered water systems on campus?
“Throughout the industry there is an inherent suspicion of the new, as being potentially expensive or a waste” Smithson believes, “it’s understandable; we are all programmed to be resistant to change and ultimately, water is not probably top of the priority list for many operators.
“There is also the belief, that it would be a difficult system to incorporate into existing fittings or that it would be hugely disruptive to install. This actually couldn’t be further from the truth – it’s an incredibly simple system to install.
So, with money saved, the environment protected and customers satisfied the case for filtered water seems to be watertight.
The Eau de Vie fresh filtered water systems come in a range of sizes, from the Point Of Use cooler for filling cups to larger systems which produce up to 150 litres of fresh chilled still or sparkling water an hour. They can be installed behind a bar and are plumbed directly into the cold mains water line (not unlike a large coffee machine). Alternatively they can sit back-of-house in a kitchen or cellar area, where staff can refill bottles behind the scenes. Once installed a system works immediately and simply needs its filter changed every 6 months. Eau de Vie also offers a full range of accessories from the specially designed bottle wash rack to ensure bottles are kept hygienically clean to bespoke printing of a sites logo onto the bottles.
Plastic, not so fantastic
Recent research from Eau de Vie, found that water sustainability is a key priority for UK students. In a study conducted by YouGov, the leading filtered water manufacturer found 58% of students interviewed agreed that using plastic water bottles is bad for the environment and 85% try to recycle products where possible.
With this in mind, universities should be looking at new ways to combat the unnecessary use of plastic on campus. One way facilities managers can meet the demand to ‘go green’ is to offer alternatives to bottled water by installing a filtered water system.
Eau de Vie currently work with a number of Higher Education establishments including, the University of Leeds and Cardiff University, to provide students with freshly filtered still and sparkling water at the touch of a button. The Eau de Vie City Unit, for example, uses change-of-state technology to provide premium quality filtered still and sparkling water for students on-the-go.
Specifically designed with the environment in mind, the free standing City Unit replaces the need to buy expensive and unsustainable plastic pre-bottled water. It’s easy-to-use display and dispense design allows staff and students alike to re-fill their own bottles at a fraction of the cost of regular bottled water by using a Eau de Vie pre-paid card.
It’s the perfect option for forward-thinking, environmentally aware universities, who are looking to make savings on the cost of purchasing, transporting, storing and chilling water.