A water delivery system

Abstract

A water delivery system 10 comprising a transport container (12, fig. 1) containing a set of pre-filled water bottles 14, each bottle containing water 16 that has been treated according to a defined process, and being sealed by a seal 18. A plurality of nozzles (20, fig. 4) are provided to be located on the bottles when a seal has been removed. The bottles are received by a plurality of bottle reception units (22, fig. 1) each attached to respective animal units (24, fig. 1). Each bottle may be provided with a screw thread 26 on the neck 28 of the bottle, with each nozzle having a corresponding thread on a nozzle neck. Each bottle may have a rectangular horizontal cross-section with four vertical sides, each side may include one or more indentations.

Description

This invention relates to a water delivery system and to a method of delivering water. Humans and animals require a regular supply of clean and fresh drinking water. In developed countries, there is a well organised supply of such clean and fresh drinking water through water extraction from reservoirs, rivers, lakes and ground water etc. that is then treated and supplied to homes and other premises via a network of pipes. However, there is significant variation in water that is supplied in this way, since the water that is provided depends on where you live and the source of the water that is supplied. For example, so-called “hard water” has a high ion content (usually from calcium carbonate) which can lead to calcium deposits in boilers and kettles and so on, whereas so-called “soft water” has a lower ion content and can also sometimes have a slight discolouration. It is also true that the water being supplied can change seasonally, since different sources of water tend to be used at different times of year. In general, this variation is not a problem for humans, but can be a problem for animals, especially those that are susceptible to illness and disease. A vivarium is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research. In areas of animal research, removing as many variables as possible from each vivarium is extremely important to the reliable outcome of the research being carried out. Since research animals are specifically bred for research, large genetic changes make them more susceptible to illness and disease when compared to wild animals. The presence of pathogens in vivarium populations is a primary health concern for those carrying out research on such animals. Removing contaminants of concern that may affect animal health and / or research data is also of high importance to the outcome and reliability of any research. Variability of water quality in the water supplied to vivarium is one factor that needs to be controlled in order to improve the health of the animals and to improve the reliability of the research results. It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water delivery system comprising a transport container, a set of pre-filled water bottles located in the transport container, each water bottle containing water that has been treated according to a defined process and each water bottle being sealed by a seal, a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle arranged to be located onto a respective water bottle once the seal has been removed from the water bottle, and a plurality of bottle reception units, each attached to a respective animal unit and arranged to receive a respective water bottle once the seal has been removed from the water bottle and a nozzle has been located onto the water bottle. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of delivering water comprising the steps of treating water according to a defined process, filling a plurality of water bottles with the treated water, sealing each water bottle with a seal, transporting the set of pre-filled water bottles in a transport container, removing a seal from a water bottle, locating a nozzle onto the unsealed water bottle, and placing the water bottle in a bottle reception unit once the seal has been removed from the water bottle and a nozzle has been located onto the water bottle. Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a water delivery system that can be used to supply water to one or more vivarium that removes the variability of the water being supplied, when compared to existing systems, while also providing a simple and efficient supply system that can be used in those research establishments that are carrying out research on animals in vivarium. The water delivery system can be used to deliver pre-packaged, certified and single-use water bottles, streamlining the process, enhancing efficiency, and reducing risks. This solution brings improved safety, productivity, and environmental sustainability to animal research facilities. In use, a technician at an animal research facility can retrieve a water bottle from the transport container, remove the seal from the water bottle that is sealing the water in the bottle, fix on the bottle sipping nozzle and insert the water bottle with the nozzle into the animal unit. Once the bottle is empty or ready for a weekly change, the technician removes the water bottle from the animal unit, removes the seal from a new water bottle, fixes on the sipping nozzle and reinserts the new bottle with the nozzle into the animal unit. When a water bottle is changed in this way, the existing nozzle can be reused with new bottle or an entirely new nozzle can be used. The water delivery system provides numerous advantages relating to the desirable factors of replacement, reduction and refinement. In relation to replacement, the system helps to replace or reduce the use of animals in research whenever possible and healthy animals are more likely to yield reliable and replicable results. In relation to reduction, the system supports a focus on minimizing the number of animals used in experiments while achieving scientific objectives and ensures high-quality water is delivered to lab animals which helps maintain their optimal health and reduces variability in research outcomes. In relation to refinement, providing high-quality water is essential for maintaining proper hydration, preventing diseases or infections, and reducing stress levels in lab animals and water of optimal quality and composition contributes to refining the conditions in which animals are housed and reducing any potential pain or distress. Preferably, each water bottle is provided with a screw thread on a neck of the water bottle and wherein each nozzle is provided with a corresponding screw thread on a neck of the nozzle. The water bottle and the nozzle can be provided with corresponding screw threads that will mate when the nozzle is fixed to the water bottle. The provision of screw threads allows a fast and easy method of applying a nozzle to a water bottle and also to the removal and replacement of a nozzle, when a water bottle is being replaced. Advantageously, each water bottle comprises a body which has a rectangular horizontal cross-section. By providing the water bottles with a cross-section that is rectangular (preferably square), the bottles can be most efficiently packed into the transport container. The sides of the water bottles can be flat vertical surfaces that allow the water bottles to be packed closely together in the transport container, and the seal on the water bottles can be horizontal to facilitate stacking of the water bottles in the transport container, if so desired. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a water delivery system, Figure 2 is a side view of a water bottle, Figure 3 is a top view of the water bottle, Figure 4 is a side view of a nozzle, Figure 5 is a side view of the water bottle with a nozzle attached, Figure 6 is a top view of the water bottle with a nozzle attached, Figure 7 is a perspective of the water bottle with a nozzle attached, and Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a water delivery process. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a water delivery system 10 which comprises a transport container 12, a set of pre-filled water bottles 14, a plurality of nozzles 20 and a plurality of bottle reception units 22. The set of pre-filled water bottles 14 are located in the transport container 12, each water bottle 14 containing water 16 that has been treated according to a defined process and each water bottle 14 being sealed by a seal 18. The plurality of nozzles 20 are provided so that each nozzle 20 is arranged to be located onto a respective water bottle 14 once the seal 18 has been removed from the water bottle 14. The plurality of bottle reception units 22 are each attached to a respective animal unit 24 and are arranged to receive a respective water bottle 14 once the seal 18 has been removed from the water bottle 14 and a nozzle 20 has been located onto the water bottle 14. The animal units 24 are designed to contain a research animal such as a small rodent, and the water 16 that is provided to the animal is supplied via the water bottle 14 and nozzle 20. The water delivery system 10 shown in Figure 1 is designed to provide a standardised water supply to the research animal in the animal unit 24. The system 10 removes the variability of the water 16 being supplied to the animal in the animal unit 24. The system 10 provides a simple and efficient supply system 10 that can be used in research establishments that are carrying out research on animals via animal units 24. The water delivery system 10 can be used to deliver pre-packaged, certified and single-use water bottles 14, streamlining the water delivery process, enhancing efficiency, and reducing risks. This water delivery system 10 brings improved safety, productivity, and environmental sustainability to animal research facilities. The problems associated with water variability are removed through the use of the water delivery system 10, since the standardised water 16 is used consistently with all animals all the time. Figure 2 is a side view of a water bottle 14 and Figure 3 is a top view of the water bottle 14, after the water bottle 14 has been filled with water 16 and sealed with a seal 18. Figure 4 shows a side view of a nozzle 20. Each water bottle 14 is provided with a screw thread 26 on a neck 28 of the water bottle 14 and wherein each nozzle 20 is provided with a corresponding (internal) screw thread 30 on a neck 32 of the nozzle 20. The respective screw threads 26 and 30 allow the nozzle 20 to be screwed onto a water bottle 14. The water 16 that is used to fill the water bottles 14 is treated according to a defined process to ensure that pathogens and contaminants are removed from the water. The microbial count in water is reported as a total viable count (TVC) and it is measured in colony forming units (CFU). The total viable count is the number of living bacteria, yeasts and fungi in a given volume of water. The colony forming unit is the number of colonies on an agar plate. For example, a sample may have a TVC at 37°C of 18 cfu / ml and at 22°C the TVC is 9 cfu / ml. The total number of living bacteria, yeasts and fungi are given using two growth temperatures. Two temperatures are used for incubation to allow growth of both environmental organisms (22°C) and organisms that may colonise / infect animals and humans (37°C). There are drinking water / potable water standards relating to water quality. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is the relevant body that regulates and monitors the quality of drinking water in England and Wales. Standards are provided in schedule 1 of The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016. Water from the mains supply to any home or business is monitored by water authorities and must meet a standard which means it is wholesome and fit for human consumption. There are no standards given for total viable counts, instead the standard is given as 0 E. coli cfu / 100mls and 0 Enterococci cfu / 100mls of potable water. E. coli and Enterococci are chosen as indicator organisms of human and animal sewage contamination. This standard is not entirely useful in laboratory animal facilities because it may not provide enough evidence of suitable water quality for rodents. This is because many strains of rodents may be immunosuppressed or immune-vague leaving them susceptible to organisms that humans would otherwise tolerate. The system is designed to deliver the highest quality potable water 16. The water 16 is treated according to a multi-stage process ensuring that the water 16 not only meets but exceeds the stringent standards for purity, reproducibility and standardisation. The first step in this advanced purification process involves the utilization of a high-performance carbon filter. As water passes through this specialized filter, activated carbon acts as a powerful adsorbent, capturing and removing impurities, contaminants, and unwanted particles. The carbon filter plays a crucial role in efficiently reducing chlorine, organic compounds, and other substances that may affect the water's quality. Following the carbon filtration stage, the water undergoes the meticulous process of Reverse Osmosis (RO). In this phase, the water is pressurised and forced through a semi-permeable membrane, effectively removing microscopic contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, dissolved salts, and heavy metals. Reverse Osmosis is a cutting-edge technology that guarantees a high level of purification, leaving behind only pure, clean water molecules. To further fortify the water against any remaining microorganisms and ensure its long-term safety, the next step involves treating the purified water with chlorine. Chlorine is a widely recognized disinfectant that effectively neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful pathogens. This crucial disinfection step not only safeguards the water against microbial contamination but also contributes to maintaining water quality during storage and distribution. This advanced purification system provides water 16 that is consistent and reproducible promoting health and well-being. The water treatment process reduces all variables and removes any biofilm in the animal drinking water. The result of the water treatment is to provide water that has a total viable count of less than 100 CFU in any 100ml and will also eliminate any biofilms that are present. Multiple organisms attach to biofilms creating communities of microorganisms that attach to the inside surfaces of pipes and wet environments. They live in close proximity enabling them to support each other by exchanging nutrients and removing toxic end products. The structure of biofilm communities can protect the bacteria within them from standard disinfection processes and are therefore very difficult to remove once established. Pseudomonas can survive very easily by attaching to the surface of pipes. The process of treating the water removes all biofilms present in the water 16 that is used to fill the water bottles 14. Figures 5 to 7 show the water bottle 14 with the nozzle 20 located thereon. Figure 5 is a side view, Figure 6 is a top view and Figure 7 is a perspective view. The volume of the water bottle 14 is 250 ml and the water bottle 14 is formed from recyclable HDPE via a blow moulding process. The nozzle 20 is formed from recyclable HDPE via an injection moulding process. Each water bottle 14 comprises a body 34 which has a rectangular horizontal cross-section. The rectangular cross-section, which is here shown in a preferred embodiment as square, has such a shape to ensure the most efficient use of space when the water bottles 14 are packed in the transport container 12. The body 34 of each water bottle 14 comprises four vertical sides 36. The sides 36 of the water bottles 14 are vertical again in order to assist in the efficient loading of the transport container 12. One or more of the vertical sides 36 of the body 34 of each water bottle 14 include one or more indentations 38. The indentations 38 are provided on the sides 36 of the water bottle 14 in order to make the water bottle 14 easier to handle when a technician at a research facility is working with a water bottle 14 in order to remove the seal 18 and fix the nozzle 20 in place. Although the water bottles 14 are designed to be single use water bottles 14, they can be recycled and reused relatively easily. Since they are formed from a single recyclable plastics material such as HDPE, they can be recycled as normal plastics waste that enters the conventional recycling system. However, the water bottles 14 can also be reused within the water delivery system 10. The transport containers 12, once empty of filled water bottles 14 can be reused by refilling with empty water bottles 14 which can be returned to the filling facility, cleaned and refilled for reuse. The cleaning process does not have to use chemical cleaning, a conventional hot wash can be used to clean the empty water bottles 14. Figure 8 shows schematically the process of delivering the water 16 within the water delivery system. The method comprises the steps of treating water 16 according to a defined process, filling a plurality of water bottles 14 with the treated water 16, sealing each water bottle 14 with a seal 18, transporting the set of pre-filled water bottles 14 in a transport container 12, removing a seal 18 from a water bottle 14, locating a nozzle 20 onto the unsealed water bottle 14, and placing the water bottle 14 in a bottle reception unit 22 once the seal 18 has been removed from the water bottle 14 and a nozzle 20 has been located onto the water bottle 14.

Claims

1. A water delivery system (10) comprising:• a transport container (12),• a set of pre-filled water bottles (14) located in the transport container (12), each water bottle (14) containing water (16) that has been treated according to a defined process and each water bottle (14) being sealed by a seal (18),• a plurality of nozzles (20), each nozzle (20) arranged to be located onto a respective water bottle (14) once the seal (18) has been removed from the water bottle (14), and• a plurality of bottle reception units (22), each attached to a respective animal unit (24) and arranged to receive a respective water bottle (14) once the seal (18) has been removed from the water bottle (14) and a nozzle (20) has been located onto the water bottle (14).

2. A water delivery system according to claim 1, wherein each water bottle (14) is provided with a screw thread (26) on a neck (28) of the water bottle (14) and wherein each nozzle (20) is provided with a corresponding screw thread (30) on a neck (32) of the nozzle (20).

3. A water delivery system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each water bottle (14) comprises a body (34) which has a rectangular horizontal cross-section.

4. A water delivery system according to claim 3, where in the body (34) of each water bottle (14) comprises four vertical sides (36).

5. A water delivery system according to claim 4, wherein one or more vertical sides (36) of the body (34) of each water bottle (14) include one or more indentations (38).

6. A method of delivering water (16) comprising the steps of:• treating water (16) according to a defined process,• filling a plurality of water bottles (14) with the treated water (16),• sealing each water bottle (14) with a seal (18),• transporting the set of pre-filled water bottles (14) in a transport container (12),• removing a seal (18) from a water bottle (14),• locating a nozzle (20) onto the unsealed water bottle (14), and• placing the water bottle (14) in a bottle reception unit (22) once the seal (18) has been removed from the water bottle (14) and a nozzle (20) has been located onto the water bottle (14).

7. A method of delivering water according to claim 6, wherein each water bottle (14) is provided with a screw thread (26) on a neck (28) of the water bottle (14) and wherein each nozzle (20) is provided with a corresponding screw thread (30) on a neck (32) of the nozzle (20).

8. A method of delivering water according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each water bottle (14) comprises a body (34) which has a rectangular horizontal cross-section.

9. A method of delivering water according to claim 8, where in the body (34) of each water bottle (14) comprises four vertical sides (36).

10. A method of delivering water according to claim 9, wherein one or more vertical sides (36) of the body (34) of each water bottle (14) include one or more indentations (38).11

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