photo by Ken McCown

When They’re Automatic Faucets

Has this happened to you?

You go into a restroom at a department store, or a movie theater, or airport, and inside you find the sinks all sport the new “automatic” faucets that dispense water when you move your hands underneath the spigot.

In theory.

They’re more trouble than they’re worth

You can be sure that more often than not, when you wave your hand under one, nothing happens except for the slight physical exertion from the concert effort of a number of muscles in your upper body, arm and hand. You can hear the sound of a pin drop because there’s no water!

Then you move to the next faucet — okay, that one works.

Now to the paper towel dispenser. Automatic again. And of the three there, one doesn’t work. Oh, look here, there’s a manual paper dispenser — that’s why there’s three, they forgot/didn’t have time to take one down.

And have you ever sat on an autoflushing toilet? Don’t get me started.

Get rid of the Gadget-y Plumbing

I would like to see these modern “conveniences” done away with.

• They run on electricity or batteries – thus, another waste of energy — what happens when there’s a blackout — and if it’s batteries, more waste to add to our landfills when they run out of juice, which, in my experience, is often
• They are not convenient – is it too much trouble to simply flick the lever of a normal faucet? Or how about installing the foot activated switches you find in hospital rooms?
• We have enough digital gadgets in our lives – really, the restroom should be the last bastion of analog devices.

Okay, end of rant. Have a great weekend!