An insulated barrel or water dispenser is a container that keeps cool and dispenses water.
They are generally broken up in two categories: bottleless and bottled water coolers.
Bottleless water dispensers are connected to a water supply, while bottled water coolers require delivery (or self-pick-up) of water in large bottles from vendors.
A freestanding design generally involves bottles of water placed spout-down into the dispensing barrel.
Tabletop or kitchen worktop versions are available which utilise readily available five-liter water bottles from supermarkets.
A new development within the water cooler market is the advent of countertop appliances which are connected to the mains and provide an instant supply of not only chilled water but also hot and boiling water.dispensers