Bluewater calls for better workplace hydration as International Stress Awareness Week begins

Workplace stress carries a heavy human and financial cost, with reported links to mental and physical ill health, absenteeism and staff turnover. As International Stress Awareness Week begins, Bluewater is urging employers to include access to quality drinking water in their response.

In a desktop research compilation published earlier this year, Worldmetrics reports that 54% of workers globally feel stressed daily and estimates that work stress costs US employers $300 billion annually. It also reports that stress contributes to 30% of depression cases and that stressed workers face a 50% higher heart attack risk. The compilation identifies heavy workloads and poor supervisor support as major pressures. These figures draw on different sources and populations, rather than a single new study.

Bluewater, a global innovator in water purification and beverage solutions, says hydration deserves attention alongside action on workload, workplace culture and access to professional support.

The ISMAUK campaign runs from 2 to 6 November under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Stress and Wellbeing: Rehumanising the Workplace’. Bluewater believes employers should consider a practical question: how easily can staff access appealing drinking water throughout the day?

‘Good hydration with water is often overlooked when we talk about wellbeing,’ said Bengt Rittri, Bluewater founder and CEO. ‘We discuss sleep, exercise and nutrition, but drinking water can get forgotten during a busy day. Employers have a chance to make this daily habit easier.’

A Spanish study published in December 2023 examined anxiety and hydration in 65 female university students. Participants with anxiety scores above the 95th percentile showed a negative water balance, meaning estimated water losses exceeded intake.

A 2018 study of 3327 Iranian adults found that those drinking fewer than two glasses of plain water daily had 79% higher odds of depression than those drinking at least five, after adjustment for other factors. The adjusted association with anxiety was not statistically significant. Neither observational study proves that water prevents or treats mental illness.

Bluewater combines advanced purification with precise mineralisation. Its compact Spirit and Pro purifiers use proprietary SuperiorOsmosis technology, developed in Sweden, to reduce contaminants such as toxic PFAS chemicals, lead and pharmaceutical residues through its second generation reverse osmosis process.

The Bluewater Kitchen Station 1 pairs an undersink Spirit purifier with the company’s mineral dosing technology and controls. After purification, the system adds Liquid Rock, Bluewater’s proprietary Swedish mineral concentrate, allowing users to personalise the taste.

Liquid Rock delivers calcium and magnesium in a 2:1 ratio. Both support normal bodily functions; magnesium contributes to nerve and muscle function and energy production. The hydration studies did not test Liquid Rock or establish an ideal mineral ratio for mental wellbeing.

‘The future of hydration is about giving people water they trust and a taste they like,’ Bengt said. ‘We want to bring that experience to more homes, workplaces and public environments around the world.’

And he urges employers to review drinking water access, provide convenient refill points and encourage regular breaks this week.