Foot tap
A foot tap is a small and user-friendly device to operate water flow in sinks which has several advantages. First seen in the rooms of dentists, who needed to drill and rinse the mouth simultaneously, this device is now making its way to many homes and offices and even restaurants.
The lever is placed as a foot pedal, thus leaving the hands free to soap and wash. This means one does not have to close the tap after soaping and potentially pick up bacteria. Also, since this is a hands-free device, things like shaving or washing dishes become easier too. Foot-operated taps can be retrofitted into existing sinks but are best incorporated at the design stage itself.
Water dispenser
Another smart device making its way into some restaurants is a water dispenser. Here you pick up R.O. water which is either cool or normal. The reverse osmosis unit itself is a back-end operation and not linked to the dispenser. A water cooler is however attached to this unit. Once you drink from the steel tumbler, there is a drop-off slot where you can push it in for it to be collected and taken away for washing.
Pot with a tap
The traditional pot or Madke , Ghada or Matka as it was called, was the best water cooler in the house especially during summer. People still swear by the coolness and taste of the water flavoured with an earthy taste. Pot water had problems with secondary contamination if you dipped a tumbler into it or any vessel to take the water out. Potters and designers for a long time cracked the design issue by incorporating a tap into it.
SODIS
Then there is the simple way to purify water using glass bottles or PET bottles called Solar Disinfection method or SODIS. Especially during an emergency like the Nepal earthquake, clean water becomes difficult to access and the risk of diseases such as cholera spreading is high.
By placing water after filtering it through a cloth into a PET bottle and leaving the bottle horizontally in the sum for six hours, much of the bacteria in the water can be eliminated and the water made safer to drink.
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