Sorry, Stanley. Portable water dispensers are my new favorite hydration hack.
The water refill station in my supermarket is a paradox. While I love the potential of cheap purified water Cutting back on bottled water purchases doesn’t help me overcome the task of lugging around lots of small jugs on my grocery trips. I was going to invest in a huge five-liter jug, but it’s too big to use without a dispenser.
Until recently, I traditionally believed that water coolers – usually found in office buildings – were the best options. But I’m changing my tune with cheap portable water dispensers.
Let’s explore three reasons why a $15 water dispenser could be worth your money. (For more clean water tips, see how to make it distilled water at home and find out how much you can save by switching from bottled water to filtered tap).
Desktop water dispensers are useful for places without a tap
Even if you don’t buy purified water, a large jug is a great way to ensure sufficient water in places without a tap.
As a person with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), I sometimes experience a mental condition called hyperfocus, where I lose track of time while working. I like the $16 Keweis Desktop Water Bottle Dispenser to stay hydrated while I work because I can place it on my desk and plug the 4-foot hose into a water jug on the floor. This means I can hide the jug under a table where there is plenty of floor space. It is also ideal for protecting the bottle from sunlight, which can degrade the plastic over time and lead to the growth of microorganisms.
My favorite features of this desktop dispenser are six presets from 100ml to 1 liter so I can get the right amount of water for my cup every time. While these presets aren’t very accurate, my quick tests with a scale and measuring cup found them to be quite accurate, within 15 to 40 milliliters (1 to 2.7 tablespoons). Strangely, the lowest settings tended to overfill the cup by a few milliliters, while the highest settings underfilled. The middle setting of 500 ml is pretty close to exact.
Keweis has a USB-C port for charging.
This level of accuracy is fine for drinks and some recipes, but it is always a good idea to double check the water amount with a liquid measuring cup. I don’t recommend using dry measuring cups unless you want to spill. You can also press the power button at any time to stop the filling process.
My main complaint about Keweis is its compact size. The tap isn’t high enough for most water bottles, and having to tilt them while filling reduces the usability of the presets. Additionally, the bottom is too narrow for a standard 4-cup measuring cup or even small mixing bowls. In any case, it fits well on coffee mugs and party cups. My next desktop water dispenser will be a adjustable height or rotating crane.
Portable cranes for camping
Myvision rests directly on a silicone cap that slips over the mouth of a 5-gallon jug. It’s not as useful indoors, but it’s a great option for camping or a remote cabin.
I first heard about portable water dispensers like the $15 Myvision automatic drinking water pump of camping channels on YouTube. Fittingly, it rounds out my thoughts on water dispensers as solid options for travel. Unlike the Keweis, Myvsion doesn’t have presets, so you tap the button at the top to start and stop the pump. It fills containers about as quickly as Keweis, but the stainless steel spout is easier to use and produces less splashing during filling. The spout also has the right angle and length to fill many types of containers.
While I like that Myvision includes a silicone lid, it is a bit loose for my taste. I prefer the tighter fit of these water jug caps I found it for $9. I think the manual control is mainly suitable for washing hands and dishes as it functions more or less like a regular faucet. As great as these portable water dispensers are, you should be careful not to place them too close to electronic devices. Also keep them out of the reach of young children to avoid messes.
A cheap alternative to disposable water bottles
Although the jug costs outright $13, it only takes a few refills to offset the cost of my usual bottled water.
It’s no secret that bottled water is a major source of plastic waste the majority ends up in landfills worldwide. But it’s not just a waste problem. Single-use bottled water is expensive compared to tap water. Still, people at all income levels can benefit from reduced reliance on single-use water bottles.
Even though I’ve cut back on bottled water purchases in recent years, I still grab a $5 box of 16.9-ounce bottles every few months. The case holds 40 bottles with a total volume of 20 liters, so I’m spending almost $1 per gallon. For comparison, I can fill an entire five-gallon jug at the water refill station for $2, or $0.40 per gallon.
I’ll keep refilling this jug until it breaks, and I like that it encourages me to use my collection of reusable water bottles.
I realize that purified water from my supermarket is far more expensive than tap water, which costs only $0.84 for the first 1000 liters in my city. Still, the consistent taste is ideal for times when sensory overload keeps me from drinking tap water.
Purified water is also perfect for emergency water storage in any household. The CDC recommends at least one three-day water supply for each person in your home, but preferably for two weeks. At one gallon per day, this amounts to about 3 to 14 gallons of water per person. Large jugs are more efficient than smaller containers as they store a lot of water.
And if you’re just not a jughead, here are CNET’s top-rated ones water filter jugs And travel water bottles buy.
