The Cost of Water for Your Business
When considering switching to water dispensers for your business, one of the most common questions we get asked is: “How much will my water bills go up?” The good news is that even at the highest commercial rates, the cost of tap water is incredibly affordable. In fact, the increase in your water bills will likely be negligible compared to the cost of bottled water.
Let’s break it down based on the commercial water rates in Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Jamaica. We’ll convert everything into USD so you can easily compare the costs.
Water Rates by Island:
- Barbados
The water rate for commercial customers in Barbados is BB $4.66 per cubic meter, which is approximately BB $0.014 per gallon. For just $1 USD, you can access around 72 gallons of water from the tap.
- Saint Lucia
In Saint Lucia, the water rate is EC $66.46 for the first 2,000 gallons, which comes to about EC $0.015 per gallon. With $1 USD, you’ll get around 66 gallons of tap water.
- Jamaica
The National Water Commission (NWC) in Jamaica charges JM $1,327.32 per 1,000 imperial gallons, which is approximately JM $0.008 per gallon. With $1 USD, you can get around 125 gallons of tap water.
As you can see, even at the highest rates, tap water remains a tiny fraction of the cost compared to bottled water.
How Does Bottled Water Compare?
Bottled water prices vary by island and bottle size, but here’s an approximate breakdown of the price per gallon:
- Barbados: A 5-gallon bottle costs about USD $12.50, which works out to USD $2.50 per gallon. This means bottled water is 178 times more expensive than tap water in Barbados.
- Saint Lucia: A 5-gallon bottle costs USD $8.83, which equals USD $1.77 per gallon. Bottled water is about 118 times more expensive than tap water in Saint Lucia.
- Jamaica: A 5-gallon bottle costs USD $3.50, or about USD $0.70 per gallon. Bottled water is 87.5 times more expensive than tap water in Jamaica.
Why Bottled Water is More Expensive:
When you purchase bottled water, you’re not just paying for the water itself. You’re also paying for the packaging, the shipping, the marketing, the storage, and sometimes the transportation costs. These additional factors can significantly increase the price of bottled water compared to the much more affordable tap water.
Bottled water is also typically sold in plastic containers that need to be manufactured, labeled, stored, and transported to your location. All of these steps add to the cost. Tap water, on the other hand, is delivered directly to your business via pipes, with minimal additional costs involved.
Conclusion:
Whether you’re considering dispensers or simply trying to understand the true cost, tap water is significantly more affordable than bottled water. The increase in your water bill when switching to dispensers is virtually negligible, especially compared to the much higher cost of bottled water. Furthermore, choosing tap water is a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly option, helping reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.
So, the next time you’re wondering about the cost of switching, rest assured—tap water is by far the most cost-effective choice for your business.