Editor’s note: This is the second article in a two-part series. The first article is available here.
Part I of this series covered water management regulations and infection prevention at senior living communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
In addition to controlling pathogens and reducing the risk of infections in showers and other points-of-use, an effective water management program helps protect older adults from scald injuries by ensuring water temperatures remain within safe limits. Beyond improving resident safety, a well-designed program can also reduce operating costs by lowering water consumption, minimizing maintenance requirements, and extending the service life of plumbing fittings and equipment.
Scald Protection: A Critical Safety Requirement
At water temperature above 120° F, elderly residents are especially vulnerable to scald injuries because of thinner skin, reduced sensation, and slower reaction times. Even brief exposure to excessively hot water can result in serious burns, making temperature control an important safety feature in senior living environments.
For assisted living communities, temperature-limiting plumbing fittings help create a safer environment that supports resident independence while giving families confidence that a common but preventable hazard has been addressed.
For nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities, scald prevention also requires compliance with nationally recognized plumbing safety standards. ASSE 1070 establishes performance requirements for point-of-use temperature-limiting devices serving faucets, while ASSE 1016 governs shower valves that control water temperature and pressure to prevent scalding and thermal shock.
Thermostatic mixing valves automatically compensate for changes in water temperature and pressure to deliver consistent, safe water temperatures. Integrated systems simplify installation, reduce potential leak points, and support code compliance. Together, these technologies help protect vulnerable residents from injury while supporting safe bathing practices and reducing risks that can contribute to survey deficiencies and resident harm.
Sustainability and Water Efficiency
Along with resident safety, water conservation is also an environmental and financial priority for assisted living facilities. At the same time, performance cannot be compromised—especially in hygiene-critical applications.
The average senior and assisted living facility uses about 100 to 125 gallons of water per resident, per day. This means a typical 100-bed facility can easily use 10,000 to 12,500 gallons of water every single day.
Efficient, High-Performance Fittings
To reduce water usage, modern fittings offer:
- Low-flow rates that meet sustainability goals
- Sensor-based shutoff to prevent water waste
- Metering options for controlled usage
These sensor-based and metering faucets are particularly valuable in environments where residents may inadvertently leave water running.
By reducing water and energy consumption, facilities can lower operating costs while supporting broader sustainability initiatives.
Reducing Maintenance and Operational Burden
Maintenance teams in assisted living communities often manage aging infrastructure with limited staff and resources. Plumbing fittings that simplify maintenance, improve reliability, and automate routine functions help reduce the burden on personnel while supporting resident safety and consistent facility operations.
For nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities, staffing shortages and increasing regulatory oversight make efficient maintenance even more critical. Smart plumbing technologies help reduce manual workloads while supporting the documentation, tracking, and verification activities needed for CMS survey readiness and Infection prevention and control (IPC) compliance.
Properly managed plumbing systems also help protect valuable facility assets. Scheduled flushing, proactive monitoring, and early identification of temperature or performance issues can extend fixture life, reduce emergency repairs, minimize unplanned downtime, and improve long-term capital planning.
Intelligent monitoring and control platforms enable:
- Remote adjustment of faucet settings
- Usage tracking and performance monitoring
- Scheduled hygiene flushing
- Automated records that support documentation and audit readiness
These capabilities reduce manual intervention and record keeping while providing data that supports water management programs and infection prevention efforts.
With maintenance departments often operating with fewer technicians than in previous years, automation has become increasingly valuable. Remote monitoring, automated flushing schedules, digital documentation, and centralized control reduce the amount of manual inspection required while allowing maintenance personnel to focus on higher-value activities.
Durability and long-term performance are equally important. Heavy-duty brass construction, interchangeable cartridges in manual and metering faucets, and long-life battery or self-sustaining power systems for touchless faucets minimize downtime, simplify servicing, and extend product life. Together, these features help facilities maintain safe, reliable water delivery while reducing maintenance demands, improving operational efficiency, and supporting regulatory compliance.
Building Confidence Through Safer Water Systems
As assisted living facilities evolve to meet higher expectations for safety and compliance, water management is becoming a central focus. Plumbing fittings—once considered purely functional—now play a critical role in infection prevention, resident safety, and operational efficiency.
By addressing risks at the point of use from sinks to showers, facilities can:
- Strengthen infection control programs
- Reduce exposure to waterborne pathogens
- Protect residents from scalding and environmental hazards
- Improve sustainability and reduce costs
Modern plumbing fittings should be evaluated not only on acquisition cost but on total lifecycle value, including water savings, maintenance labor, service life, replacement frequency, and regulatory support. Ultimately, these strategies do more than meet regulatory requirements; they help create an environment where residents and their families feel confident in the quality and safety of care.
Greg Hunt is a product manager for Chicago Faucets’ line of commercial products. He’s a certified ASSE 12080 Legionella Water Safety and Management Specialist and an American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) member.