Electronic touch-free automatic faucets can flush water outlets without the need to open the tap manually. They are particularly suitable for buildings with individual, infrequently used water points or periods of low usage, such as schools, hospitals, and office buildings. Thanks to automatic faucets, water is refreshed regularly without separate actions. This reduces risks caused by stagnant water and supports water quality management, for example by monitoring temperatures and other conditions.
The faucets include a small built-in hydropower unit that generates operating energy from the water flow, although start-up is powered by a battery. The faucets can be programmed with scheduled flushes, and all collected data is stored in a cloud service. The information can be used to monitor water consumption, usage cycles, energy consumption, and temperatures. This enables efficient management of water points and adjustment of parameters as needed.
Water stagnation is a particular challenge in buildings with extended periods of low use or many rarely used faucets. Previously, flushing had to be done manually, which required time and resources and could easily be forgotten. Automated and scheduled flushes are documented in the system and take place without the physical presence of staff. This saves time and helps maintain control over water quality.
From a research perspective, automatic faucets also offer significant advantages. They enable the creation of a controlled experimental setup in which flushing parameters can be systematically adjusted and the microbiological quality of water can be monitored consistently. Research data is collected automatically and remotely, reducing measurement disturbances, saving resources, and enabling reliable results without increasing workload.