Last updated: 30 November 2025

How much water do your staff actually need? (A simple 15L bottle calculator for warehouses & workshops)

If you run a warehouse, workshop, depot, farm, site office or busy workplace in regional NSW, you’ve probably had the exact same moment: “How many bottles should we order so we don’t run out… but we’re not drowning in stock either?”

The internet will tell you litres-per-hour, sweat rates and heat charts. Helpful in theory. But for ordering 15L returnable bottles, you need something practical, realistic, and easy to manage.

The simplest answer (our starting formula):

✅ Start with 1 × 15L bottle per staff member, per fortnight.

Then we adjust it based on your actual usage, so you don’t overstock — and you don’t run out.

1) Why this “1 bottle per staff member” rule works

Most workplaces don’t need a complicated medical formula to order drinking water. What you need is a repeatable baseline you can start with, then tweak based on real consumption.

The 1 bottle (15L) per staff member per fortnight starting point works because it’s:

Simple to order (no spreadsheets required)
Easy to scale as headcount changes
Easy to monitor over 2–3 delivery cycles
Grounded in reality, not theory

2) The simple 15L bottle calculator

Starting order:

15L bottles per fortnight = number of staff members

Add a seasonal buffer (optional):

Office / light-duty: add ~10%
Warehouse / workshop / outdoor: add ~20%
Remote sites / peak summer: add ~30%

That’s it. Start there — then we fine-tune your standing order based on what actually gets used.

3) Worked examples

Team size	Start (bottles/fortnight)	+20% buffer (workshop/warehouse)	Why you’d add buffer
10 staff	10 bottles	12 bottles	Hot week, visitors, shift overlap
25 staff	25 bottles	30 bottles	Heat + contractors + multiple work zones
50 staff	50 bottles	60 bottles	Peak throughput / peak summer / remote top-ups

4) How we adjust it with you (so ordering stays easy)

The smartest part of this system isn’t the starting number — it’s that you don’t have to guess forever. After your first couple of deliveries, we help you dial it in based on: how many empties you’re returning, your schedule, and your site conditions.

How the adjustment works:

Running low early? We increase your standing quantity and/or bring the schedule forward.
Finishing with too many bottles? We reduce your standing quantity so you’re not paying for excess stock.
Team size changes? We update the baseline and re-balance the order.
Summer hits? We increase temporarily, then drop it back once conditions ease.

The aim is simple: keep your workplace reliably stocked while minimising waste and excess bottles. (No dramatic stockpiles. No “we ran out again” dramas.)

5) Hydration setup tips that reduce waste (and improve real usage)

The amount you use is influenced by how easy it is for staff to actually drink water during the shift. These small setup changes make a big difference:

Put water where the work is — not only in the lunchroom.
Two zones = two hydration points (e.g., warehouse + office / front counter).
Keep it clean and obvious — cups ready, tidy empties, no “weird old mug” situation.
Assign ownership — one person checks the station each day (stock + cleanliness).

Quick product links (if you want it sorted)

If you want a simple setup that’s easy for staff and easy for you to manage, these are the common starting points:

Want us to recommend a starting order?

Tell us your headcount and site type (office / workshop / warehouse / outdoor), and we’ll suggest a starting quantity and schedule. Contact us here.

FAQs

Is “1 bottle per staff member per fortnight” enough?

It’s a starting point designed to get you moving quickly without over-ordering. Your actual usage will vary. That’s why we adjust the standing order after the first couple of cycles.

What if we have uneven shifts, contractors, or lots of visitors?

Start with the headcount that’s most consistently on site, then add a buffer (10–30% depending on conditions). After that, the order gets tuned based on empties returned.

Do we need a cooler?

Not required — but coolers improve convenience, hygiene, and usage because staff drink more often when it’s effortless. A starter pack is usually the easiest way to get set up. View Starter Packs.

Do you deliver to my area?

Check Delivery Areas, or reach out and we’ll confirm your schedule.

Note: This article provides general ordering and stock-planning guidance for workplace drinking water. Actual needs vary by heat, workload, roster patterns, and site layout.