New Wave Enviro Water Dispenser

I just bought this item as an alternative to a standard ceramic crock. I have always used ceramic in the past and there is nothing wrong with the ceramic. They have proven themselves over time to be very hearty, durable and easily cleanable. However I just wanted to try the stainless steel model for it's lighter weight and durability because we Tend to move things around a lot. And I'm just a big stainless fan.Upon arrival it was in very good shape. The construction is hearty. I would say 16-18 gauge steel and very lightweight in comparison with the previous ceramic ones I have used. Here are some the differences I have taken into account.- The edges Are a little sharp. the bottom edge where the plate and sidewalls are connected create a lip that is sharp on the bottom. I would recommend setting this on something to avoid scratching your countertop. The top edge is also sharp but comes with a beefy plastic ring that will allow your water bottle to sit comfortably without scratching.The spigot is plastic and installs easily. I recommend tightening it snuggly by hand enough to avoid leaks.- another concern vs. ceramic is that this is made from two pieces of steel rather than one solid piece On the inside where the bottom and the sides join there is a small groove similar to the inside of a #10 can. A ceramic crock is smooth inside and is easily cleaned. this groove may present a problem area for Some. Yes clean filtered water Goes in but because of the air gap between the top of the crock and the neck of the bottle algae growth can and will happen. keep an eye on this. You should clean inside any crock frequently, usually between bottles. An extra toothbrush and a spritz of vinegar or bleach once In a while hould keep it clean.- The weight. The plus side of this crock is that it is very light. Although that may be a problem when refilling with a new Bottle. The weight of a ceramic crock usually keeps it in place. This one must be firmly anchored so it does not slip.- aesthetics. Stainless, as pretty as it is, usually shows fingerprints and watermarks easily. So you may have to clean this more often than a typical ceramic crock.In the end this is a great product but unless you're just looking for stainless to match your kitchen or the lighter weight they're largely the same product at the same price. It may be a little higher maintenance but it's well worth the quality if you choose to go this route.

Love the stainless steel. Using with a 3 gal job of water. No leaks from the top or from the valve assembly. Easy to put together. Simple to wipe down. Dispenser is plastic. I bought a stainless steel dispenser instead. The washers with the stainless steel dispenser stunk like a fragrance chemical. Days in sunlight did nothing. Tried the washers from the plastic dispenser included with enviro product. Fit just fine. Up and going and now I have a stainless steel container, stainless steel dispenser, and no leaks.I noticed the same problem as another reviewer - the bottom. It's basically think metal in a circle shape that touches the counter. It doesn't feel that smooth or safe for a counter. I put an old cardboard back of a pad of paper down as a mat for the container. The bottom could use a redesign to be less hurtful to counters. Will it scratch a counter? I don't know. I don't want to chance it. Replacing a counter costs more than a mat to cushion this enviro container.We got this to replace a plastic dispenser that screws onto the jug bottle openings. We had a fairly new one that just kept leaking with any bottle we tried. So we didn't want to muck around with the screw on dispenser caps, their o-rings, and all that stuff. They say the screw on dispensers don't leak and they're partially right. It doesn't "leak," it just drips out the excess water on your floor after a few seconds of closing the dispenser. Kind of like if you suck water up a straw, hold at an angle, and let go. Air comes up the bottom, water goes out. That's what we kept having with the dispensers that go on top of jugs.So we tried this. It's so easy and so nice. When it's empty, I just wipe it out, easy to clean in seconds. Load up a new jug. Back in business. No leaks and no more drip drip drip like we had with the screw on cap dispensers. Haven't tried the plastic dispenser included with the enviro; we used a separate stainless steel dispenser. I love this enviro product. We still have a bowl on the floor just in case of a leak, spill, or whatever ... thanks to years of drips from the old screw on dispenser we used before this enviro. It's so nice to wake up and see the bowl dry with the enviro container.Will it hold a 5 gallon? I don't know. 5 gallons is beyond my weight limit. Works great with 3 gallon jugs.