Choosing an Elkay ezH2O Bottle Filling Station: A Practical Model Guide
The ezH2O range covers everything from a school hallway retrofit to a stadium concourse, which is exactly why the model list feels overwhelming. Ignore the part numbers for a moment: every unit is a combination of five choices. Decide the five, and the model picks itself.
1. Mounting: surface, in-wall, or retrofit
Surface-mount coolers with an integrated filler are the standard install and the easiest replacement for an existing wall fountain, reusing the same rough-in. In-wall units recess the cabinet for tight corridors where ADA protrusion limits matter. Retrofit fillers mount above an existing fountain and add bottle filling without touching the fountain below.
2. Refrigerated or not
Refrigerated coolers chill on demand and need a power circuit and vent clearance. Non-refrigerated units dispense at line temperature, cost less, and go where power is awkward. Indoor public buildings usually choose refrigerated; back-of-house and mild-climate sites often do not need it.
3. Filtered or filterless
Filtered models carry the WaterSentry cartridge and the certified lead and microplastics reduction that schools and public facilities typically specify. Filterless models cost less up front and suit sites with treated building water. If you change your mind later, the EWF3000 kit adds filtration to a filterless unit.
4. Single or bi-level
Bi-level configurations pair a high and low unit for ADA compliance in public corridors. Single ADA-height units serve smaller spaces. If the station replaces a bi-level fountain, stay bi-level and keep the accessibility you already had.
5. Duty grade
Standard cabinets serve offices and schools. Vandal-resistant models harden the sensors and fixings for parks, transit, and correctional settings. Pro Filtration units are the newest tier, built around the ultra-capacity FL10 10,000-gallon filter plus a sediment prefilter, aimed at high-traffic sites that want one filter change a year instead of three. See a configured example: the LZS8WSBPRO-FSR5 Pro Filtration station.
Worked examples
- Middle school hallway: refrigerated, filtered, bi-level, standard duty. The classic spec.
- City park restroom block: non-refrigerated, filtered, vandal-resistant.
- Corporate lobby: refrigerated, filtered, single ADA, standard duty, in-wall if the corridor is tight.
- Stadium concourse: refrigerated, Pro Filtration, bi-level.
Once the unit is chosen, plan the consumable: every filtered station needs a cartridge on a 12-month cycle at most. Our filters collection carries the full current lineup. Need help matching a spec sheet or a bid line item? Send us the requirements and we will spec the exact model, with trade pricing for volume orders through our B2B program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Elkay bottle filler station?
An Elkay bottle filling station is a wall-mounted or free-standing dispenser that delivers a high-arc, sensor-activated stream specifically shaped to fill reusable water bottles quickly. Most models also pair with an integrated drinking fountain cooler so the unit serves both standard drinking and bottle-filling needs from a single rough-in.
How much is an Elkay water dispenser?
Elkay ezH2O models range from around $400 for a basic non-refrigerated surface-mount unit to over $2,000 for a refrigerated, Pro Filtration bi-level station. Duty grade, refrigeration, and filtration tier are the biggest price drivers — the five-choice framework in this guide helps you land on the right tier without over- or under-specifying.
Are Elkay water bottle fillers filtered?
Some are, some are not — it is a factory configuration choice. Filtered models ship with the WaterSentry cartridge and are certified for lead and microplastics reduction, which most schools and public buildings specify. If you purchase a filterless unit and later decide you need filtration, the EWF3000 upgrade kit adds a certified cartridge without replacing the entire station.