Hygiene in Healthcare: Why Touchless® Sensor Taps Are the New Standard
In the healthcare sector, infection prevention is not something that can be left to chance; it is a daily necessity. Healthcare professionals, patients and visitors are constantly moving through corridors, waiting areas and hospital wards.
While hygiene efforts in hospitals have traditionally focused on hand hygiene and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, one significant source of cross-contamination often remains overlooked: the physical controls on drinking water dispensers.
Physical push buttons present a real risk of cross-contamination. That is why a patented sensor tap or other touchless taps are no longer a luxury, but a logical choice for creating a hygienic, future-proof healthcare environment.
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The Hidden Risks of Physical Buttons in Healthcare Facilities
In an environment where bacterial exposure is high, every physical touch represents a potential risk. Traditional water coolers with push-button controls are used daily by hundreds of different people—from healthcare professionals leaving a patient's room to visitors and vulnerable patients. As a result, they become an often-overlooked point of contact for the transmission of pathogens.
Regular disinfection by facility management teams remains essential, but when physical buttons are involved, it provides only a temporary solution. Between cleaning cycles, dozens of people touch the same button. A single contaminated hand is enough to recontaminate the surface and increase the risk of cross-contamination.
True hygiene in healthcare starts by eliminating the contact point itself. Not by cleaning more frequently, but by removing physical contact at the source.
How Touchless® Technology Prevents Cross-Contamination
To deliver the most hygienic drinking water experience possible, AQUALEX developed its patented Touchless® technology. Physical push buttons for chilled, filtered and sparkling water are replaced with highly accurate optical sensors.
Simply hold your hand above the desired icon to activate the water flow—without touching the appliance. It is a technology that perfectly meets the strict hygiene requirements of healthcare environments while offering immediate, tangible benefits:
- No physical contact: Reduces the risk of bacteria and viruses spreading via shared touch surfaces.
- Available across the range: Touchless® controls are available on almost all AQUALEX drinking water systems.
- Simple and intuitive: Healthcare professionals, patients and visitors can quickly and safely fill a glass or reusable bottle without any additional steps.
With a patented Touchless® tap, you transform a potential contamination point into a hygienic, controlled and future-ready drinking water solution.
The Benefits of Automatic Sensor Taps for Drinking Water in Hospitals
When hospitals and healthcare facilities choose touch-free drinking water points, the benefits extend far beyond reducing bacterial transmission. Automatic sensor taps also contribute to a more efficient, safer and more comfortable healthcare environment.
- Maximum Infection Prevention: Because patients, healthcare professionals and visitors do not need to touch the unit, the risk of cross-contamination through the drinking water point is reduced to a minimum.
- Greater Comfort for Every User: Vulnerable patients or elderly users with reduced hand strength or joint pain can operate the system effortlessly. A simple hand movement above the sensor is all it takes to activate the desired water flow.
- Increased Efficiency for Healthcare Staff: Nurses can fill glasses and medical cups quickly and hygienically without spending time cleaning operating buttons before and after each use.
- Smarter Water Use and Better Hygiene: The sensor automatically stops dispensing water as soon as the hand is removed. This prevents unnecessary water consumption, reduces spills and avoids stagnant water in the drip tray, further supporting the hygiene of the drinking water station.
AQUALEX Maintenance for Drinking Water Systems in Healthcare
In a medical environment, a reliable and hygienic drinking water system is not a luxury—it is an absolute necessity. That is why AQUALEX's maintenance service is designed to relieve facility and technical teams while ensuring the continuous availability of safe drinking water.
- Preventive Maintenance at Scheduled Intervals: Our specialised technicians carry out regular inspections and thorough cleaning. Advanced microfiltration cartridges and UV-C disinfection modules are replaced on time to ensure every system continues to perform at its best.
- Optimal Performance of Touchless® Technology: During every maintenance visit, the optical Touchless® sensors are carefully inspected and calibrated, guaranteeing flawless touch-free operation.
- Real-Time Insights with MyAQUALEX: The MyAQUALEX digital management platform gives facility managers a complete overview of all drinking water systems at any time. Filter status, maintenance history and system notifications are available in real time through one intuitive platform.
- Fast Service, Maximum Continuity: If a technical issue does occur, AQUALEX's certified technicians are ready to respond quickly, ensuring that reliable drinking water remains available throughout your healthcare facility.
Case Study: UVC Brugmann – Hygiene and Management in a "Hospital City"
Brussels University Hospital UVC Brugmann demonstrates that safe drinking water solutions can go hand in hand with sustainability and scalability. As one of the few hospitals in Europe with a unique pavilion-style campus, it faces the daily challenge of limiting the spread of infectious diseases between multiple buildings.
Four Decisive Selection Criteria
Dominique Mutembe, representative of UVC Brugmann, explains:
"We provide care for everyone, regardless of origin, beliefs, gender or social background. But our responsibility goes further than that. We are committed to sustainability—not only for today's generation, but also for future generations."
After an extensive evaluation based on four key criteria, the hospital selected AQUALEX for its:
- Price
- Service
- Filtration quality
- Management platform
The energy-efficient and whisper-quiet AQUALEX T1 and F1 units proved to be the ideal choice. Their compact design made it easy to install them in every department and nursing station.
Managing 130 Units with MyAQUALEX
Technicians often describe UVC Brugmann as "a city in itself." With 130 drinking water stations spread across the entire campus, maintaining a clear overview is essential to guarantee continuity and hygiene.
MyAQUALEX provides exactly that. Through one central dashboard, the hospital monitors every drinking water system, schedules preventive maintenance, tracks filter replacements and quickly organises service interventions. This ensures both the availability and hygiene of drinking water across every department.
Trusted by Leading Belgian Hospitals and Healthcare Providers
AQUALEX has extensive experience in the healthcare sector. Thanks to advanced filtration, patented Touchless® technology and dependable service, leading healthcare organisations rely on our drinking water solutions every day.
Our systems have proven their value in a wide range of healthcare environments, from hospital wards and waiting areas to meeting rooms.
Among the organisations that have chosen AQUALEX are:
- AZ Maria Middelares (Ghent)
- AZ Sint-Blasius (Dendermonde)
- ZNA Hospital Network Antwerp
- GZA Care & Living / GasthuisZusters Antwerp
- OLV Hospital (Aalst, Asse and Ninove)
Whether you are looking for a drinking water system for a small residential care home or a complete rollout across a large merged hospital, the priorities remain the same: maximum hygiene, reliable continuity and a solution that integrates seamlessly into the daily operations of healthcare.
Conclusion: Make Infection Prevention an Automated Standard
Maintaining the highest hygiene standards in healthcare starts with eliminating potential risks. In today's healthcare environments, physical push buttons on drinking water dispensers represent an unnecessary touchpoint that increases the risk of cross-contamination.
By choosing a healthcare drinking water system equipped with patented Touchless® technology, you take an important step forward. Not only do you reduce the risk of cross-contamination at the drinking water point, but you also support your facility and healthcare teams with an intelligent digital management platform that combines efficiency, reliability and operational continuity.
A Drinking Water System for Your Healthcare Facility
Would you like to raise the hygiene standards in your hospital or healthcare facility?
Request a no-obligation consultation or quotation. Our experts are happy to discuss your specific requirements and provide tailored advice, inspiration and technical guidance.
Discover our complete range of Touchless® drinking water systems for healthcare.
