What Is a Water Vending Machine?
A water vending machine is a dispensing device installed in places such as supermarkets, allowing customers to self-service and fill their bottles with potable water to take home.
The water supplied is typically purified, often referred to as RO (Reverse Osmosis) water, which undergoes additional filtration beyond tap water. Despite the name “vending,” the primary purpose of these machines is often not the sale of water but rather a service aimed at attracting customers and improving customer satisfaction.
For individuals concerned or dissatisfied with drinking tap water or looking to reduce the cost of purchasing bottled water, water vending machines have become appealing as a source of potable water. This has led to an increase in the number of establishments installing these machines.
Uses of Water Vending Machine
Water vending machines are primarily used for purposes such as improving customer satisfaction and acquiring new customers.
In areas like the grocery section of supermarkets or food supermarkets, water vending machines are often placed near the checkout. Customers can fill their bottles with water after completing their purchases or visit the store specifically to fill their bottles with water, separate from their shopping activities.
The water provided by these machines is either free or available at a very low cost. For instance, in certain food supermarkets, customers can purchase a dedicated bottle for a few hundred yen initially and then refill it with water for free indefinitely. Additionally, other supermarkets offer free use of the water vending machine by creating their brand credit cards, which serve as authentication keys.
Furthermore, there are water vending machines that charge for water, accepting payments through cash, credit cards, or other means. These machines find applications not only in supermarkets but also in facilities such as hospitals, aligning with the operational policies of the respective establishments.
Principles of Water Vending Machine
Water vending machines are connected to the tap water source, filtering tap water to produce purified water by removing impurities further. The purified water is then dispensed into dedicated bottles placed at the machine’s outlet.
In Japan, tap water supplied is usually safe for direct consumption. However, tap water may carry a slight odor (chlorine odor) due to the residual hypochlorite used for sterilization, and there may be trace amounts of impurities. Moreover, there is a possibility of foreign particles mixing in the pipes from the water treatment plant to the faucet.
In water vending machines, tap water undergoes additional filtration through a filter, particularly in the case of RO water obtained by filtering through a reverse osmosis membrane. RO water removes almost all impurities from the water. The water tank is further sanitized using a UV sterilization device to prevent bacterial growth, ensuring hygienic management.
The front of the water vending machine includes a place to put dedicated bottles and an operating panel. Additionally, cash payment machines or devices for reading membership cards or credit cards are incorporated based on the specific service model.
How to Choose a Water Vending Machine
When selecting a water vending machine, considerations include basic specifications such as the size of the equipment and its water production capacity. It is also crucial to assess whether the machine can operate in a manner suitable for the service model offered and whether it allows for proper hygiene management.
Water production capacity refers to the amount of purified water the machine can generate per unit of time. In cases where a large number of users is anticipated, selecting a machine with a high water production capacity or installing multiple machines may be necessary.
For the service model, considerations involve whether water is provided for free or at a charge and whether services are limited to members. This includes evaluating if existing membership cards can be read for access.
Hygiene management is of utmost importance for water vending machines. Internal components such as filters, water tanks, pipes, and faucets must be kept clean at all times. Ensuring the cleanliness of the bottles used to carry the water and educating users on hygiene aspects, such as using the water within the recommended period, is also necessary.
In choosing a water vending machine, it is recommended to consider not only the specifications and performance of the equipment but also the supplier’s maintenance system and proposal capabilities tailored to the usage conditions.