Considering water’s positive impacts on brain function and healthy nutrition, especially in children and adolescents, Elkay bottle filling stations have become very popular additions in schools and child-care facilities throughout North America.
In addition to their scientifically-proven health benefits, these devices also have very compelling environmental and economic benefits. You've no doubt seen stories on how damaging single-use plastics are to our environment, but the increasing pressure they are putting on our recycling industry is causing a lot of budget issues at the state and local level.
A brief look at the data will convince you that a water bottle filling machine is a great option for all of these reasons. However, there are hundreds of choices, and the process of finding the ideal model for your setup can be daunting.
That's where we come in.
We’ve compiled a list of popular models best suited for schools and other educational facilities. In addition to being the most popular models, the stations below are a good sampling of the spectrum of different features and benefits that Elkay offers with their machines.
The list below is definitely not exhaustive, though. You can also see our complete indoor bottle filling station catalog. But these five are a great place to start:
NOTE: The list below has some units that are partially Hands-Free, and a couple that are fully automatic. If fully Hands-Free is important to you, check out our list of the 5 Best Hands-Free Bottle Filling Stations.
1) ENHANCED Bottle Filling Station
Elkay’s newest model series, the Enhanced Bottle Filling Station includes new features that improve the experience for both the users and facilities teams.
- Increased Energy Savings from smart system that schedules power-off to save on electric bill
- Easier filter replacement with automatic filter status reset button
- Monitor Usage & Track Savings with new diagnostics
- Low energy LED that illuminates during bottle filler to avoid spillage
- Sensor-activated bottle fill
- NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 Certified 3000 Gallon Filter to remove lead, particulate, and chlorine
- 8 GPH refrigeration
- Requires electricity
- Available in a Bi-Level setup for additional ADA accessibility
2) GREEN Bottle Filling Station
Made evident through its name, the Green Bottle Filling Stations series is a favorite for sustainability departments and other eco-conscious groups.
Primary Benefits
- 35% more efficient refrigeration system compared to industry standard
- Vandal-resistant options for bubbler and push-bar
- Green ticker counts number of single-use bottles saved
Standard Features
- Filtered and unfiltered options
- Refrigerated and non-refrigerated options
- Sensor-activated bottle fill
- Requires electricity
- Available in a Bi-Level setup for additional ADA accessibility
3) VANDAL-RESISTANT Bottle Filling Station
Want to protect your bottle filling station's longevity? The Vandal-Resistant Bottle Filling Station series is a model built to resist damage and minimize repair cost. It is also ideal for some protected outdoor installations (contact us for details).
Primary Benefits
- Vandal-resistant bubbler piece and push-button activation
- Fully stainless steel cabinet
- Galvanized structural steel cooler for structural integrity
- Outdoor-rated option
- Push-button activated bottle fill (no sensor activation)
- Filtered and unfiltered options
- Refrigerated and non-refrigerated options
- Requires electricity
- Available in a Bi-Level setup for additional ADA accessibility
4) IN-WALL Bottle Filling Station
Arguably the most aesthetically appealing bottle fillers, this model is one of the most popular in the Hands-Free Collection.
Primary Benefits
- Ideal for tight spaces
- Retrofit options available for existing Swirlflo and Soft Side models
- Sensor-activated bottle fill
- Filtered and unfiltered options
- Refrigerated and non-refrigerated options
- Requires electricity
5) SURFACE MOUNT Bottle Filling Station
Probably the most versatile of bottle filling stations, the surface mount series has models for almost any type of setup. It is also a very popular unit within the Hands-Free Collection.
Primary Benefits
- Could provide opportunity to retrofit existing bi-level station
- No electricity required with battery and mechanically operated models
- Smaller investment
- Sensor-activated OR push-button activated bottle fill
- Filtered and unfiltered options
- Utilizes your existing refrigeration (if applicable)