Healthcare Retrofit
Healthcare Retrofit: Saint Mary’s Hospital, Chicago
A touchless restroom upgrade designed to reduce infection risk, minimize water waste, and improve staff efficiency
across patient-room and public washroom environments.
12 Public Washrooms
0.35 GPM Flow Restrictors
ROI: 9.5 Months
Challenge
Challenge: Saint Mary’s sought to modernize 48 patient-room restrooms and 12 public washrooms as part of its infection-control upgrade. Manual faucets were a hygiene risk and frequently left running, causing water waste.
Solution
Solution: ArchFaucet provided medical-grade infrared sensor faucets with thermostatic mixing and integrated flow restrictors (0.35 GPM). Installation was completed with minimal disruption thanks to universal mounting kits. For water-efficiency benchmarks commonly referenced in commercial and institutional settings, see EPA WaterSense.
Results
Outcomes were tracked over time to measure water performance, hygiene risk reduction, and operational efficiency.
- Water usage reduced by 42%.
- Zero cross-contamination incidents related to faucet touchpoints (tracked for 12 months).
- Staff cleaning time decreased by 18%.
- ROI achieved in 9.5 months through water and labor savings.
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned: Benefit most from touchless systems when paired with thermostatic valves and flow restrictors. Early involvement of facilities teams ensures optimal calibration and maintenance. For healthcare hygiene best-practice guidance, refer to WHO Infection Prevention & Control.
Verified Websites
Verified external references related to infection control and water efficiency
