It's Mid-August and another 30-degree day. The fans are working overtime, and the air con’s doing its best, but whether it’s hot and humid or cool and dry, your team still needs to hydrate. When they don’t, energy dips, headaches set in, concentration slips and your team’s wellbeing starts to suffer.

We’ve already seen record temperature levels so far this summer, and August will be no different. While it might sound obvious, the reality is that the majority of us don’t adapt to the hot weather by increasing our water intake. Even if your office is cooled by air conditioning, hydration levels will still fall.

What happens when we don’t drink enough water?

We lose more water than we realise during summer – through sweat, dry air and even breathing. Air conditioning in offices can exacerbate this by drying out the air, increasing fluid loss.

According to the University of Connecticut’s Journal of Nutrition, even mild dehydration (just a 1–2% drop in body water) can lead to:

• • Headaches and irritability
• • Reduced concentration and short-term memory
• • Fatigue and sluggishness
• • Dry skin and eyes
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What this means for the office?

The problem is simple: thirst isn’t a reliable early warning system. By then, dehydration has already set in. Most of us don’t even realise we are dehydrated until the symptoms appear:

• • Tiredness and foggy
• • Frequent headaches or eye strain
• • Deterioration of mental sharpness and mood

Supporting employee wellbeing in the workplace starts with small changes – like easier access to water.

Why it matters

Staying well-hydrated is more than just avoiding illness – it keeps us emotionally balanced, our brain ready for its daily tasks, supports steady energy levels and maintains cognitive clarity.

Fluid loss in the summer increases without us knowing, and staying hydrated via easily accessible, chilled water becomes key to keeping your team feeling tip top.

How much water should we drink per day?

The British Nutrition Foundation suggests that women should drink 1.6 litres and men 2 litres per day – but in the summer months or in a dry office, your body often needs more.

Summer hydration tips for a healthier workplace:

• • Start the day with water
  We wake up slightly dehydrated, so make your first drink a glass of water.
• • Sip regularly throughout the day – don’t chug
  This is better for your body and more effective than trying to catch up at the end of the day.
• • Prioritise water over tea or coffee
  Tea and coffee count, but too much caffeine has a diuretic effect – leading to lost fluids.
• • Check your pee
  Pale yellow = hydrated
  Dark yellow or amber = drink more
• • Choose a solution that works year-round
  A cost-effective hydration setup ensures your team stays hydrated throughout summer and beyond.
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How can we help?

At Lex, we offer a simple, hassle-free, flexible and sustainable mains-fed water cooler solution for offices. That means no bottle deliveries, no storage requirements and no heavy lifting – all for just £25 per month.

What else do you get?

• • No minimum contract – cancel anytime
• • Free installation
• • Unlimited filtered water – with the taste and appeal of bottled
• • 2 maintenance / filter replacement visits per year

Explore our plumbed hot and cold water services.

Why our mains-fed service is better than using a bottled cooler

• • No empty bottles lying around during busy periods
• • No reordering and delivery delays
• • No heavy lifting
• • No plastic bottle waste
• • No emissions from delivery vehicles
• • Clean, great tasting water straight from the mains
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With no plastic waste, no emissions from deliveries, and consistent pricing, our system is not only practical, it’s a truly sustainable water cooler solution.

By choosing a budget-friendly water cooler from Lex, you’re not just improving hydration, you’re reducing your carbon footprint and making a long-term, cost-effective choice for your workplace.