because lifting full water coolers high would strain your back.
l,
sam

That seems like a bad trade, one person having to lift the bottle up another foot vs everyone having to stoop.

Besides they could be cleverly designed to lower to the ground for refueling then ratcheted back up for use.

Besides besides, the ones here in this office are tap-fed.

People were much shorter when water coolers were invented. So they are at eye level.

These watercolors never run.

No, I think people used to have longer arms when water coolers were invented.

This would be a good advantage to being a Jedi - not having to lean over for the water cooler.

It's harder for the truly puny to reach up than for the gangly beanpoles to lean down.

Or maybe they're just getting ready for bring-your-kid-to-work day.

It's because that's as tall as they can conveniently build a stand without having the center of gravity dangerously high.

If that's the case, they should put the tank at the bottom, and use that uphill-water.

Your watercoolers are young. The life span of a watercooler is long and eventful; like groupers, they grow and grow for years. If you had ever been invited to the really fancy expensive offices, you'd see older ones, but obviously so far in your career you have only rated an immature watercooler. Perhaps one day you too will encounter an adult and the ladder which executives must climb for their water. Eventually, after many many years, adult watercoolers leave the office, step outside and turn into water towers. That is a day of great rejoicing.

Watercoolers should be actuated by foot pedals.

If that's the case, they should put the tank at the bottom, and use that uphill-water.
It's clear (no pun intended) you don't know shit about water coolers. Leave it the water cooler experts. Stop asking questions about it, it's a dark slippery slope you're getting into. Please.

uphill-water
oh yeah, you mean that "uphill-water" they have at the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum? Yeah.

Hey - if water coolers could talk, eh? They'd go on endlessly about American Idol, racquetball, car insurance and hair products.