Elkay’s Smartwell® Quenches Thirst for Eco-Friendly (and Delicious) Hydration

Did you know that only 22% of people in the United States drink the recommended 8 to 10 glasses of water daily? The majority find themselves too busy and don’t keep up with their daily hydration. Proper hydration is key for those working out in the hangar or on the ramp all day, as well as for those passing through to reach their next destination. As guests and employees try to keep up with their personal hydration, single-use beverages can add up to a mountain of discarded plastic bottles, and all that waste is bad news for business aviation’s carbon footprint.

An American-owned and operated manufacturer of sinks, faucets, bottle fillers and drinking fountains, Elkay Manufacturing has been a leader in the water delivery space for over 50 years. Elkay introduced its award-winning ezH2O® bottle filler in 2010 and most recently it’s newest water delivery innovation: the Smartwell beverage dispenser. Smartwell is an eco-friendly, next-generation upgrade that provides on demand still and sparkling water in an array of flavors and enhancements. 

“It’s become more common for people to carry their own refillable bottle with them, so this type of capability is becoming expected in commercial and public spaces,” explained Elkay Manufacturing Senior Product Manager Marilyn Bombard. “We are seeing a growing number of FBOs in the Northeast and in Texas installing our new Smartwell beverage dispensers.”

“Staying hydrated is very important to good health and job performance, especially for people working outdoors,” she added. “Because potential contaminants such as chlorine, lead, and particles are filtered out, Smartwell water tastes better, so people drink more.”

Speaking of taste, Smartwell beverage dispensers offer over 70 beverage combinations for their users, aside from fresh, chilled still water. Users can choose from still or sparkling water, 10 all- natural fruit flavors and enhancements such as vitamin C, electrolytes, caffeine and zero-calorie sweetener. Smartwell eliminates the need to purchase high-calorie, sweetened single-use beverages. All beverage combinations are zero-calorie, Gluten Free and Kosher Certified.

Users also have the option to dispense their beverages and view nutritional information from the unit’s touchscreen or their own personal mobile device, with touchless technology to ensure employees and guests are free to craft their perfect beverage without spreading germs. In addition, they can also use their own reusable water bottle, dramatically reducing the number of cans, cups and plastic bottles littering lands and waterways.

As companies plan to improve sustainability goals and slash single-use waste, solutions like Smartwell can make a major impact. After all, if 1,000 employees and guests bought just one bottle of still-water daily, that would generate 260,000 plastic bottles annually, each destined for the recycling plant or land fill (and most business aviation centers will see much more than 1,000 people per day). 

Another benefit to the system is that the Smartwell dispenser is a “connected” unit. It automatically sends status updates and information, eliminating the need for someone to periodically check filters and flavoring packet levels.

“The system saves customers money and time and reduces plastic waste,” Bombard said. “But, most importantly, it encourages people to stay hydrated in a healthy way.”

To get smart about flavored drinking water, visit ElkaySmartwell.com for more information or to receive a custom quote to meet your business needs.