Frequent Questions or Concerns
Do you have questions pertaining to our service, equipment or products? Please see below for our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have any questions not answered here please feel free to call customer service at 1-800-232-7332 8am-5pm Mon-Fri. We always welcome suggestions!
What was the outcome of the proposed bottled water tax?
The original proposal included a $.01 per ounce tax on bottled water, which would have doubled the price of a 5 gallon bottle of water! Thanks to the thousands of petitioners and bottled water consumers who fought against this proposal, a much more manageable sales tax was implemented instead. Effective June 1, 2010 bottled water, in addition to candy and gum, will be subject to WA state sales tax. This means an average of a $.40 to $.50 increase per 5 gallon bottle of water. Use the Department of Revenue's Tax Rate Lookup Tool to determine exactly how much sales tax you will be required to pay for your bottled water. To find out more about the important tax changes in WA, please visit the official Department of Revenue site.
What size water containers does Mountain Mist supply its' customers?
Mountain Mist supplies the following bottle sizes:
* 5 gallon bottles
* 3 gallon bottles
* 2.5 gallon jugs ( 2 jugs per case )
* 1 gallon jugs ( 6 jugs per case )
* 1 liter bottles ( 12 bottles per case )
* 500ml bottles ( 24 per case, available in flat cap or sport cap )
What are bottle deposits?
Bottle deposits are $10.00 per 3 or 5 gallon bottle, refundable to the consumer upon return of the bottle. Bottle deposits apply to consumers who rent their residences. They are not applicable to home owners or commercial customers. Construction accounts may require deposits to secure bottle returns.
How much water should I consume each day?
Each person, household or office will consume different amounts based on personal usage. Please consult the hydration calculator to determine how much water a person should consume daily to fulfill hydration requirements.
How tall are your water coolers?
The standard size water dispenser is 12.5"W x 12.5"D x 38.5"H requiring an additional 2-3” circulation space for proper compressor operation.
Does Mountain Mist supply glass or plastic water bottles?
At this time, Mountain Mist only supplies plastic water bottles. These bottles weigh much less, approximately 53lbs for a 5-gallon, and are 100% recyclable material.
Why should I not just buy my water at the store?
We bottle our water straight from our in-ground aquifers. Once bottled, the 3 or 5-gallon bottles are typically delivered within 24 hours! Mountain Mist is processed naturally so our spring water retains all natural minerals and nutrients without harmful bacteria and preservatives. It’s pure, refreshing, affordable and very convenient. Home or office delivery, courtesy of our friendly delivery drivers, removes the strain of carrying heavy bottles from the store and eliminates the "guess work" from various brands that may provide filtered municipal source water at an inflated price.
What is an environmental surcharge?
The rising costs of fuel, energy and raw materials have significantly increased our operating expenses. To continue providing our customers with an affordable and quality product, an environmental surcharge will be assessed each time the driver stops to deliver water, service a cooler or pick up empty bottles. This minimal $1.00 charge is not only significantly lower than the delivery fee charged by many of our competitors but also a much lesser cost than an increase per individual product price.
What is the shelf life of your bottled water?
Case products, such as 2.5 gallon cases, 1 gallon cases, 1 liter cases and 500ml cases are able to be stored for up to 1 full year in favorable conditions. Our 3 and 5 gallon bottles have a recommended shelf life of 3 months maximum. Why the difference in shelf life duration? Cases are sealed products, intended for storage, whereas the 3 and 5 gallon bottles are simply capped and intended for immediate usage. Mountain Mist water is an all natural product with no preservatives added, it should always be stored in cool, dark areas for maximum taste and freshness.
Should I keep bottled water on hand for emergencies?
Absolutely! Many government agencies recommend storing at least one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days. The best way to ensure your emergency water will be fresh and safe for consumption is to rotate your water supply every 6 months or so. Various sizes of case products delivered regularly, every 2 or 4 weeks, may help ensure this rotation occurs.
Is Mountain Mist water available for commercial re-sale?
Yes, our case products are available for re-sale. Please contact us at 1-800-232-7332 to discuss your re-sale needs.
What products are offered by Mountain Mist?
Mountain Mist offers a wide array of products, not just water! We offer soups, teas, private label gourmet coffees roasted and packaged by Dillanos, as well as Starbucks and Folgers, cider, cocoa, coffee condiments and popcorn. We also offer a variety of equipment to compliment our wonderful products including filtration systems, plumbed-in brewers, glass pots, air-pots, microwaves and mini refrigerators. Give us a call; we've got what you need!
Is a contract required to obtain Mountain Mist's services?
No long-term contract is required to rent Mountain Mist's equipment or enjoy our water, only a rental agreement, which means you are free to enjoy our products on a month to month basis and you don't have to worry about termination fees. Many of our competitors DO require contracts, often for 1 year or more, and DO charge a cancellation fee, as much as $50.00 per account, should you attempt to discontinue service before the maturation of your contract! If life events result in cancellation of our service you are free to do so without repercussions, we don’t feel anyone should be penalized for opting to discontinue service, we respect your decision as a consumer. We are confident that you'll enjoy our products and services and we think you'll love us enough to stay with us anyway!
