The Hydration Factor: How Gyms Are Improving Member Experience with Water
With 75% of Americans chronically dehydrated, gyms are taking steps to make hydration an essential part of the member experience
When it comes to setting members up for training and recovery success, we often focus on the essentials: selecting high-quality equipment, offering diverse group classes, hiring experienced trainers, and creating a motivating atmosphere. These factors are crucial, but there’s one component we often overlook: water.
Consider this — 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This means that many of your members may be walking into your gym already at a disadvantage. Hydration plays a critical role in overall performance, from maintaining energy levels to ensuring proper muscle function and brain clarity. Without sufficient water, even the best workouts won’t yield optimal results.
Dehydration leads to fatigue, headaches, reduced cognitive function, and poor muscle recovery—all of which hinder gym performance.
So, why aren’t we drinking enough water? For some, the taste of tap water is unappealing. Others worry about potential contaminants, while some avoid bottled water due to concerns about environmental impact, which leads us to another potentially underemphasized but important aspect of running a gym — your carbon footprint and how it’s impacting the planet.
As gym owners, it’s an interesting challenge to consider: How can we help members stay hydrated and reverse the dehydration trend when they may not even realize they’re dehydrated? Should it even be our role to facilitate this? One company, FloWater, is attempting to address this issue by offering a filtered and enhanced water system aimed at improving hydration, performance and recovery outcomes.
Using a Multi-Step Process
FloWater’s purification system is composed of seven steps. The system uses the facility’s existing tap water, removing contaminants and impurities and then going beyond this to add trace minerals and electrolytes that support hydration needs.
The process begins by filtering out large particles like dirt and rust, ensuring the water is free from visible contaminants. Following this, the system uses a carbon filter to remove smaller impurities, such as chlorine and heavy metals, which can affect both taste and safety.
One of the core steps is advanced osmosis, a highly efficient filtration technique that tackles complex contaminants such as fluoride, bacteria, and pharmaceuticals. To further purify the water, Flowater introduces activated oxygen, which naturally sanitizes the system and adds a bit of oxygen to the water — a potential benefit for muscle function during workouts. The water is then enhanced with trace minerals and electrolytes that support hydration and performance, before being passed through a final coconut carbon filter, which ensures a crisp, refreshing taste.
In essence, Flowater’s multi-step process not only purifies water but also enhances it to better support hydration needs, while addressing concerns over both taste and safety.
Flowater’s CEO, Rich Razgaitis, says that much of the public’s reluctance to drink tap water stems from concerns about contamination. He points out that “up to 80% of Americans don’t trust their tap water,” and notes that data from recent studies support these concerns, with instances of lead, microplastics, and other contaminants being found in water sources across the U.S.
Says YOGASIX South Hills Studio Owner, Jarrid Danburg, “Knowing that FloWater’s purification technology removes up to 99% of toxins, heavy metals, microplastics, viruses, and bacteria gives us and our members confidence in its safety. Plus, the enhanced hydration it provides supports a healthier immune system, which is essential for our yoga community.”
Razgaitis goes on to explain that the filtration process Flowater uses is designed not only to remove harmful contaminants but also to make water more appealing by improving taste.
“The reality is that a lot of tap water simply doesn’t taste good, and people reach for other options like bottled water or sugary beverages instead,” Razgaitis explains. This behavior, he notes, can detract from both health goals and sustainability efforts, as single-use plastics contribute to environmental damage.
“Since integrating FloWater, we’ve been able to prevent 108,155 plastic water bottles from entering landfills,” says Danburg. “Beyond the environmental impact, the advanced filtration system produces exceptionally pure and delicious water.”
A Potential Solution to Hydration in Gyms
Flowater’s approach aims to address two key challenges faced by gym owners: helping members stay hydrated and providing a more environmentally sustainable solution to single-use plastic water bottles. According to Razgaitis, gyms that have installed Flowater systems have seen a significant increase in water consumption among members, with some gyms reporting up to a 2- to 5-fold increase in daily hydration. The idea is that better-tasting, enhanced water encourages more frequent consumption, which in turn supports better performance and recovery during workouts.
“The high-quality filtered water supports health and hydration, which are key components of our fitness philosophy,” says F45’s Director of Operations, Steven Sullivan, Additionally, Flowater’s eco-friendly approach aligns with our values of sustainability, reducing single-use plastic waste, and enhancing the overall environment of the studio.”
One of the notable aspects of Flowater’s system is the inclusion of electrolytes in the purified water. These essential minerals — magnesium, potassium, sodium, and calcium — are crucial for muscle function and recovery, particularly for gym-goers who lose electrolytes through sweat during exercise. While electrolytes are often associated with sports drinks, Flowater integrates them into its filtration system to support hydration without the added sugars typically found in these beverages.
Barry’s Bootcamp has integrated Flowater dispensers into some locations and is looking to increase this in the upcoming year. Says their SVP of Brand and Communications, Vicky Land, “FloWater’s refill stations help us keep our clients hydrated. It’s easy and convenient for them and reduces plastic waste furthering our sustainability efforts. As a brand that’s committed to fitness and overall wellbeing, we’re excited to continue rolling out FloWater’s fresh, great-tasting water to additional Barry’s locations in the future.”
As gyms continue to focus on providing comprehensive wellness solutions for their members, hydration will likely remain a key area of interest. For gym owners, offering clean, enhanced water could be one way to encourage better hydration habits and support the overall performance and recovery of their members while also reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.