Plumbing Pioneers: The Latest and Greatest Plumbing Innovations!

There was a time when plumbing fixtures were designed purely for the simple purpose of pumping water, but those days are over. As the world changes and learns more each day, various parts of our lives take huge strides forward- and plumbing is no exception. From faucets designed to make your life easier to water-saving fixtures which aim to conserve our dwindling water supply, plumbing truly has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Let us take a look at some of the biggest innovations in plumbing in recent years.

Going Green

Water is a huge problem in the world today. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh, two-thirds of which we can not access. About 1.1 billion people do not have access to water, and 2.4 billion people drink unsanitary water that can lead to diseases. By 2025, two-thirds of the world may find water to be a scarce commodity.

So what can we do to conserve water and prevent future shortages? The answer is green plumbing. In the past, the main goal of fixtures and appliances was functionality. Newer appliances and fixtures, however, are taking measures to conserve water. For example, many older toilets can use as many as five gallons per flush, but newer low-flow toilets can cut that number by as much 80%. Newer washing machines can also save tons of water in comparison to older models.

Water companies are finding easier ways to conserve water by providing customers with water conservation kits that include water saving devices which can be placed in faucets and showerheads to conserve water without sacrificing pressure.

Incredible Convenience

Conserving water is not the only goal of new plumbing fixtures and appliances. Many new plumbing innovations feature never-before-seen functions and amazingly convenient features.

One of the biggest innovations in the kitchen comes in the form of the hands-free faucet. Instead of fumbling to turn the faucet on with your forearm because your hands are dirty, all you have to do is wave a hand over the sensor and the faucet turns on- even when the water is turned off via the handle. Even holding a cup underneath the faucet will automatically turn it on.

Samsung’s Activewash washing machines feature a built-in sink for soaking your clothes to loosen stains before washing. Not only is it a super convenient way to pre-soak your clothes, it saves water because you do not have to fill up a separate sink or bathtub with water.

Point-of-use water heaters heat water right near the faucet, giving you on-demand access to hot water on a room-to-room basis.

Health Benefits

There are even some health benefits to newer plumbing innovations. Many germs are passed from person to person because they both touched the same object. For example, installing a hands-free faucet eliminates the need for touching the handle after you have finished washing your hands. Hands-free toilets can also help reduce the spread of germs by automatically flushing when you are finished using the bathroom.

Another huge step for plumbing hygiene is whole-house or under the sink water filters. There are many different types of water filters available, each with differing filtration methods that work well for different contaminants. However, you will have to hire a plumbing expert to install them unless you have the proper equipment.

With as many awesome plumbing innovations as we have seen over the past decade, there is surely more on the way. While you may not consider switching to high-efficiency toilets and appliances until yours need to be replaced, there are tons of other easy-to-install plumbing fixtures that will help save water and give your home a health and convenience boost.