What the different coloured taps on water dispensers actually mean

Ever poured yourself some water in the office, your dental practice waiting room or your GP surgery and wondered what on earth the different coloured taps actually mean?

Well, you're not alone my friend as it seems a large part of the internet also doesn't have a scooby on the matter.

Luckily, however, some wizard wheezes online have come to the rescue to clear the whole thing up once and for all.

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To get to the bottom of it, curious people of the internet took to X, formerly Twitter, to try and solve the enigma.

One Twitter user penned: "There is no greater mystery in life than the difference between the blue and white tap on a water dispenser."

A second admitted: "Never known the difference between the blue tap and the white one at those water dispenser things. Anyone?"

"Is it just me that never knows the difference between the blue and white tap on a water dispenser lol," echoed a third.

A fourth asked: "When has anyone EVER used the white tap/button over the dark blue one on a water dispenser even though none of us actually know what the difference is? like why is it an option?"

As a fellow blue tap loyalist - I can most definitely second this.

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The discourse even made its way to Reddit with one user asking: "What's the difference between the blue tap and the white tap on office water coolers?"

Another subsequently claimed: "Blue is likely chilled. White is either heated or room temperature."

Inquisitive internet users on an Anand Tech forum voiced their verdict on what the colour could mean.

One wrote: "I always thought that the white was room temp as well, and red is the hot water (if equipped). Blue is always cold, unless it's not, LOL."

They continued: "Looked on Google and seems like there is no rhyme or reason why they are the colours they are. This site has all different colours and temps for them."

A third advised: "How about taking a sip out of each and figuring out yourself..."

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And, that's exactly what we did.

When posed with the predicament, the entire office got in somewhat of a heated debate on which colour meant what with half of us claiming blue was obviously the colder option of the two, while the other half were adamant white was actually the colder choice given its similar colour to ice.

So, a colleague rushed over to our own water dispenser to test it out for ourselves and found that the blue tap was in fact the colder choice.

Aficionados of all things H20, Hydrate Direct, has also confirmed our little experiment stating that the white tap on its water dispensers gives out 'ambient' or room temperature water, while the blue tap offers 'chilled cold water'.

So, in short, white is for all you room temp weirdos, blue is more a fresh gulp of cool hydration and red (if available) is hot.

Guess you really do learn something new everyday.