Touch-free water water dispensers improve hygiene by helping to prevent the spread of germs, especially in places where many people use the same machine. Here, Refreshment magazine editor Bryony Andrews spoke to some successful forerunners of touch-free service in high-traffic areas.

In a post-Covid world, consumers are more aware of the risk of transmitting germs and viruses through shared public amenities. Aware that this could lead potential users to avoid their services, a growing number of water dispenser manufacturers have responded by developing touch-free technology to maximise safety and hygiene for the users of their products.

High-traffic areas

Touch-free water dispensers are ideal for high-traffic locations, Cristina Oliver-Rodés of European water cooler manufacturer Canaletas, told Refreshment. She identified hospitals and medical facilities, offices and corporate environments and foodservice and hospitality establishments as locations in particular need of touch-free dispensing.

“Any location aiming to provide a safe and modern hydration solution for users would benefit from upgrading to touch-free technology,” said Oliver-Rodés. “Touch-free water dispensers improve hygiene by avoiding contact with buttons, which helps prevent the spread of germs, especially in places where many people use the same machine.”

Sally Laurie , marketing manager at drinking water systems maker Borg & Overström, added schools, universities, hotels and gyms to the list of potential locations.

"In these spaces, minimising surface contact helps control the spread of germs, creating a safer environment for students, employees and visitors," she explained. "By eliminating the need for physical touch, touch-free dispensers significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination, making them a smart and hygenic solution for any busy public or workplace setting."

Laurie added that for operators, these dispensers support compliance with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, aligning with the World Health Organization’s findings that effective IPC can reduce healthcare infections by up to 70%.

Water filtration specialist Culligan Quench is seeing strong trends for touchless dispensing in workplaces where there is high-traffic usage of the water cooler or ice machine in a short amount of time, Jeff Price, VP product marketing, told Refreshment. He highlighted waiting rooms, including healthcare locations; transient retail and hotel lobbies; workplaces and cafeterias with shift workers and shared office spaces as locations that would benefit from a touch-free water dispenser, rather than a traditional water cooler.

Hygiene-sensitive locations such as hospitals and medical facilities, meanwhile, can benefit from touch-free water dispensers to help maintain infection control and reduce the risk of virus and bacteria transmission.

“Touch-free water dispensers…are especially well-suited for healthcare settings, such as hospitals and care homes, where preventing cross-contamination is critical to safeguarding patients and staff,” said Borg & Overström’s Laurie.

Furthermore, touch-free dispensers can be especially beneficial for individuals with limited mobility, Emma Redford, marketing director at water filtration specialist H2O Direct, pointed out. “They can allow users to obtain water safely without contacting surfaces that may be contaminated,” she noted.

Choosing the right interface

From manual foot pedals to infrared technology and laser sensors, there are many different touch-free dispensing options to choose from. However not all touch-free technology is created equal, and different formats may be better suited to certain locations and users.

“Methods like voice commands, gestures or distance sensors can be used to operate touch-free dispensers, giving the user a more intuitive experience and minimising the spread of germs,” said H2O Direct’s Redford.

Historically, manual, foot-pedal-powered dispensers have been the most commonly used touch-free systems. In recent years, however, manufacturers have started to develop more sophisticated technology to improve the user experience.

“Manual foot pedals are the simplest but most physical type of hands-free dispensing, as they require the user to step on a pedal to enact the dispensing mechanism,” said Ted Hertz, VP commercial drinking water category at Culligan Quench. “While manual foot pedals do help prevent the transfer of potential contaminants, some customers hold concerns about adding a potential tripping hazard to their spaces.”

Borg & Overström’s Laurie , meanwhile, observed that “foot pedals…can accumulate dirt and require regular cleaning, making them less hygienic”. She highlighted Borg & Overström’s SensorBeam, a touch-free technology designed for its E-series water dispensers, as an alternative. Using patented projection mapping technology, SensorBeam illuminates dispense controls onto the floor surface. Users simply place their foot over the illuminated button to dispense water and fill their drinking vessel. Powered by bright, energy-efficient LEDs, SensorBeam works seamlessly on any surface.

“This innovative approach enhances hygiene by eliminating direct contact, setting a new standard for touch-free hydration,” said Laurie. “This not only improves sanitation but also adds a modern, interactive element to water dispensing, encouraging use and promoting better hydration.”

“The combination of advanced technology and stylish design has fuelled the growing demand for touchless water dispensers. SensorBeam even senses when someone is nearby and reveals the water icon options.”

For a truly touch-free service, infrared (IR), capacitive and laser sensors are the best choice, according to Culligan Quench’s Hertz.

“IR and capacitive sensors are all truly touch-free as they use different sensor technologies to enable the user to wave or hover their hand to dispense,” he said.

However, IR sensors rely on light intensity to dispense, and require firmware to mitigate them being triggered by reflective vests, reflections and even radio waves. Traditional IR also has difficulty seeing clear and black vessels. Capacitive sensors, meanwhile, typically have a shorter proximity range, requiring a user to place their hand or finger closer to the sensor surface, which some users feel makes it less touchless or harder to use.

“At Culligan Quench, we use a specific type of IR sensor called PSD, or Position Sensitive Detector, because they are more accurate and can be made very small,” Hertz explained. PSD sensors can be tuned for the proper range and electronic interference to minimise sensitivity to outside factors.

Hertz continued: “Our current touch-free dispensing products require the user to keep their hand still to dispense water, but with our parent company Culligan, we are launching a new product line of water coolers in the coming months that will allow the user to mimic swiping and scrolling behavior through touch-free sensors. Along with IoT capabilities, we are really excited to take workplace water cooler technology to the next level.”

Harnessing AI

Prioritising hygiene and user convenience, manufacturer of water coolers and dispensers Blupura equipped its touch-free model Unico with artificial intelligence.

Users place their bottle under the tap and the AI-driven system uses a combination of sensors and vision systems to detect the container, ensure correct positioning to prevent spills, fill it automatically and, crucially, stop dispensing precisely when the container is full. This can prevent water wastage and slippery floors.

Blupura also offers a touch-free, infrared sensor option as an alternative to the full AI mode. Users bring a hand within 1.5cm of the sensor to start the water flow, which stops immediately upon removal.

Debora Screpanti, managing director at Blupura, said: “This significantly reduces the risk of germ transmission, a critical factor in public health awareness. The activation sensor is thoughtfully positioned to comply with accessibility regulations, making Unico accessible to users with disabilities.”

Minimising maintenance

For Canaletas, sensor accuracy is vital to minimising operators’ maintenance workload. Several of Caneletas’ touch-free models employ a patented dual-sensor system, which Oliver-Rodés identified as a key strength of their technology.

The innovative system uses two sensors, she explained. “The first detects the presence of a bottle or cup, and only when detected can the second sensor be activated, allowing water to be dispensed. If no bottle or cup is detected, water will not flow, even if the activation sensor is triggered.”

This safety feature helps avoid accidental spills, reduces water waste and increases overall user safety, proving especially useful in public or high-traffic areas.

Compared to traditional units, touch-free water dispensers, by their nature, reduce the frequency of cleaning and maintenance required, according to Blupura’s Screpanti.

Blupura’s Unico solution further boasts anti-splash features and remote monitoring capability, as well as a dispensing head made of non-porous, easy-to-clean Corian to prevent bacterial proliferation.

Many dispensers in Blupura’s range feature unique hygiene technologies to help minimise bacterial growth. The Nano Silver Pipe, for example, is an internal treatment using silver ions on the stainless steel tubing, which prevents the formation of bacterial colonies and reduces drips. A silver ion treatment is also used on the external surface of the dispenser, reducing bacterial proliferation on the unit itself.

Showing their best advantage in high-traffic areas, touch-free water dispensers offer numerous benefits, from enhanced hygiene to convenience and accessibility. Plus, with a range of technology options to choose from, there is a touch-free system to match the needs of every location – and every budget.