Differences Between Water Dispenser and Water Purifier: Which is More Logical?

Access to healthy, clean and reliable drinking water is one of the most important decisions we make both in our homes and workplaces. While our water consumption habits are changing with the developing technology, consumers are faced with two basic alternatives. At this point, the differences between water dispenser and water purifier, is one of the most researched issues in the decision-making process. Understanding which system is more beneficial for your family, your health, your budget and the environment directly affects your long-term quality of life. In this comprehensive guide, we will help you make the most logical decision for you by examining the working principles, advantages, costs and ease of use of both systems in depth.

Basic Concepts: What is a Water Dispenser and Water Purifier?

Before proceeding with the comparison, it is necessary to correctly identify the main players in the market and their logic of operation. Each device has its own purpose and technology.

What is a Classic Water Dispenser and How Does It Work?

Conventional water dispensers are systems that work by placing packaged water (usually 19-litre carboys) purchased from outside into the device from the top or bottom. The main function is to instantly heat or cool the water. These devices do not purify the water; they simply transfer the ready-made water in the carboy to the glass at the user's preferred temperature. Although they provide convenient hot/cold water access, they require a constant ordering of carboys from outside. This means a regular physical effort and a continuous monitoring process.

What is Water Purifier?

Water purifier, connected directly to the mains water line of your home or office and using advanced filtration systems are high-tech products that make tap water drinkable. Especially Reverse Osmosis (Reverse Osmosis) technology utilising these systems; purifies water from sediment, chlorine, heavy metals, viruses and bacteria. They are known for their compact design, usually hidden under the counter. Modern appliances are also equipped with alkaline filter and mineral filter systems that restore essential minerals to the water.

Technology Combining Both: What is a Purified Water Dispenser?

Water dispensers with purification, which are the latest in technology, are hybrid devices that combine the best features of both systems in one body. They are connected directly to mains water without the need to purchase carboys from outside. While the filtration system inside the device purifies the water instantly, the motor and resistance system of the dispenser offers this clean water hot or cold at any time. This innovative solution, which ends the trouble of carrying carboys, is a perfect alternative for those looking for a combination of "water dispenser water purifier".

Water Dispenser and Water Purifier Comparison

When making a decision, devices should be evaluated not only on their immediate price, but also on four main criteria: health, long-term cost, comfort and sustainability.

Cost and Long-Term Savings: Think Yearly, Not Monthly

The biggest mistake made when calculating the water cost of a house or office is to focus only on the price of a carboy. According to data from the Turkish Water and Beverage Industrialists Association (SUDER), the average annual packaged water consumption of a person in Turkey is 149 litres. Exactly 81 litres of this consumption comes from carboys. When you consider the annual water consumption of a standard family of four and the ever-increasing prices of carboys, an annual bill of thousands of liras emerges.

On the other hand, although there is an initial installation cost in water treatment devices, your only expense afterwards is the annual periodic filter changes. Switching to a water treatment system with a direct connection to the mains, rather than a ready-made water supply, saves up to 80 per cent of household water costs in the long term. In a three or five year projection, the purifier is a highly profitable investment that pays for itself many times over.

Health, Water Quality and Sense of Control

The biggest hidden danger waiting for the consumer in ready-to-drink water is plastic packaging. Washing and reusing carboys many times, waiting in the sun and transport processes increase the risk of BPA (Bisphenol A) and microplastics in water. The danger of microplastics is one of the most discussed health problems in the scientific world today. In addition, if the inner chambers and carboy pumps of conventional dispensers are not disinfected regularly, they can turn into serious bacterial breeding grounds.

Expert Note When purchasing a water purifier or purified dispenser, it is the most important criterion for your family's health that you pay attention to the use of NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) approved filters.

In purification systems, you are in complete control. Water passing through NSF approved filters is completely purified from heavy metals such as lead, mercury and chemicals such as chlorine. Moreover, a quality under-counter water purifier protects the alkaline balance by enriching the water with healthy minerals after the purification process and guarantees you to drink fresh, uncarbonated water.

Comfort, Maintenance and Ease of Use

The biggest disadvantage of a classic dispenser is the physical effort. Lifting a heavy 19-litre carboy and placing it on the dispenser without tipping it over is a serious risk, especially for back health. Moreover, there is always the possibility of running out of water in the middle of the night or at the weekend.

Water treatment systems and purified dispensers with mains water connection offer you uninterrupted comfort. Thanks to the automatic filling system, the hassle of ordering water, waiting for a courier or carrying heavy plastic bottles is completely eliminated. With a short periodic filter maintenance to be performed only once or twice a year by the authorised service, your system works with its first day performance for years.

Environmental Impact and Plastic Consumption (Sustainability)

Today, environmentally friendly water consumption has become a global necessity rather than an individual preference. A standard 1.5 litre plastic bottle of water leaves an average of 45 grams of carbon footprint in the production and disposal phase.

🌿 DID YOU KNOW? In order to obtain 1 litre of bottled ready-to-drink water in the industrial field, a total of 17 litres of water is consumed from nature when plastic raw materials, production and processing items are included. (Hidden Water Consumption - Water Footprint)

Using a treatment device reduces the production of plastic waste to zero without ever bringing it into your home. You will break a huge pollution chain from the exhaust emissions created by transport vehicles to the carbon emissions of plastic factories. For those who want to take an environmentalist step, treatment systems are indisputably the number one option.

Can You Turn Your Existing Water Dispenser into a Purifier?

Many consumers do not want to throw away the classic carboy dispenser they already have at home or in the office. The question "Can I benefit from the advantages of purification without replacing my existing robust appliance?" is a common one. Thanks to the new generation of converters, the answer is definitely "yes".

Water Dispenser Purifier Apparatus Usage

If you have an under-counter water purifier and want to integrate it into your classic dispenser, all you need is a water dispenser purifier. For this process, a special capped reservoir with a float system is placed in the carboy section above the classic dispenser.

Water purification dispenser connection is made with a thin, flexible and aesthetic hose drawn from your purifier under the counter. The system is extremely intelligent; the purifier produces water and sends it to the reservoir on the dispenser. When the reservoir is full, the float system automatically cuts off the water just like a reservoir. Thanks to this DIY (Do It Yourself) approach connected to the water dispenser purifier; you do not throw away your old device, you do not have to pay for a new dispenser and you are completely free from the trouble of lifting heavy carboys.

Table: Which System Offers Which Features?

Which one is more suitable for you? Decision Making Guide

Requirements vary depending on the room and the number of people. When deciding which device is the best solution for you, you can review the profiles below.

Best Choice for Houses and Families with Children

Space is often limited in home kitchens. A huge dispenser standing in the open both spoils the aesthetics and takes up space. For this reason, under-counter water purifiers are the perfect solution for families. A sleek and slim purification tap mounted right next to the tap meets all drinking water and cooking water needs. If you are a family that needs hot / cold water instantly, modern design and especially child lock safety dispensers with purification can safely take place in the corner of your kitchen.

Ideal Solution for Offices, Workplaces and Waiting Rooms

Employees need instant access to hot water to make tea and coffee during working hours and cold water to cool off in summer. Carboy circulation in workplaces reaches gigantic dimensions. For accounting departments, even the follow-up of these invoices is a job in itself. For such commercial areas, high-capacity, mains-connected purified dispensers directly increase office productivity. If you are a business owner, you can also increase your office prestige by examining the new generation purified water dispenser models with modern and stylish designs.

You may be interested in Rainwater Water Treatment Solutions

Rainwater, the address of quality and trust in the sector, adds value to your living spaces with its wide range of products for different needs.

Rainwater Under Counter Water Purifiers

Designed for those who want to save space in their kitchens, Rainwater under-counter models work with multi-stage reverse osmosis technology. With its compact structure, it easily fits into narrow spaces under the sink, while offering health and confidence in every drop of your water thanks to its smart filter monitoring systems.

Rainwater Purified Water Dispenser Models

Designed for both offices and large homes, Rainwater purified water dispensers harmonise with your decoration with their aesthetic appearance. Combining the comfort of hot and cold water dispenser with the purity of purification technology, these devices promise a new generation user experience with BPA-free internal parts, stainless steel water tanks and touch panels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is a purified water dispenser healthy?

Yes, purified water dispensers are extremely healthy. It offers you safe drinking water by removing chlorine, heavy metals such as lead, sediment and bacteria in mains water. In addition, since it completely eliminates the use of plastic carboys, it eliminates the risk of carcinogenic microplastics caused by waiting in the sun and the risk of bacterial growth caused by carboy pumps. The most critical point for health is not to interrupt the periodic maintenance of the filters by authorised services.

How many hours does it take to fill an 8 litre water treatment tank?

The filling time of a standard 8 litre water purifier tank varies according to the pressure of the mains water in your home and whether the purifier is equipped with a motor (pump) that increases the water pressure. At an average standard mains pressure and using a good quality membrane filter, this time is between 40 and 60 minutes. However, in devices sold without a pump or in houses with low water pressure such as upper floors, this time can be up to 1.5 hours.

Water purifier or ready water?

When long-term use is considered, the water purifier is much more advantageous and logical than ready water in every respect. Costs changing with inflation and carcinogenic (BPA etc.) effects of plastic packaging are significant disadvantages. Although there is an initial cost of installing a quality device, the water purifier minimises the cost of water that the family will consume for years (only the filter fee) and does not harm the environment (carbon footprint).

Are those who say why purified water is not good right?

The main reason why purified water is called "harmful or dead water" is that the old generation of purifiers of decades ago removed harmful substances from the water while removing minerals necessary for the body such as calcium and magnesium. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) requires a certain mineral balance in drinking water. Since "Alkaline Filter" and "Mineral Filter" are used as the last stage in the new generation of modern water purifiers, the minerals needed in the purified clean water are naturally restored and the pH level of the water is balanced to the alkaline level (7.5 - 8.5). The filtered purified water with the right equipment is the most reliable water source you can reach today.