Avalon Water Dispensers and Filtration: Premium POU Coolers
Avalon (Avalon Water Coolers, San Francisco, California) manufactures premium bottled and point-of-use (POU) water dispensers at the upper end of the consumer water cooler market. The Avalon A1 (top-load, $100--$150), Avalon A5 (bottom-load, $150--$200), and Avalon A9 (POU, filtered, hot/cold/room temp, $200--$300) are the core product line. Avalon differentiates from Primo and Brio through premium build quality, NSF-certified filter components, and stainless steel water contact surfaces in its POU models.
Avalon A9 Point-of-Use Dispenser
The Avalon A9 ($200--$300) is a POU water dispenser that connects to the home water supply (3/8" cold line) and filters through a 2-stage filter (5-micron sediment + activated carbon, NSF 42 certified) before delivering hot, cold, and room-temperature water from the unit's three dispensing points. Stainless steel internal water tanks (rather than plastic) are Avalon's key quality differentiator -- stainless does not leach BPA or DEHP and is more durable long-term than polycarbonate tanks found in lower-priced POU coolers.
Avalon Bottled Cooler Models
The Avalon A5 bottom-load cooler ($150--$200) accepts standard 3 and 5-gallon water bottles, with the bottle loaded from the bottom cabinet to eliminate overhead lifting. The A5 includes both hot and cold water dispensing. For households who prefer bottled water (from Primo Exchange, DS Waters, Sparkletts, or self-refill) rather than POU connection, the Avalon A5 provides premium cooler experience at a lower price than some competitor models. Avalon coolers include a child safety lock on the hot water tap -- a standard safety feature that many budget coolers lack.