A tap should not be the reason a WASH system fails.
The Durable Tap is lead-free, theft- and tamper-resistant, and engineered for the realities of high-use schools, health facilities, and public handwashing stations.
250,000
Operating cycles tested
10 bar
Burst pressure tested
1/2-inch
Standard connection
Kenya · Ethiopia · India
Countries with school deployments
Most taps were never designed for this.
At a public school, a single tap may be used by hundreds or thousands of hands every day. It must withstand constant operation, variable water quality, dust, limited maintenance capacity, and the possibility of theft or vandalism.
Conventional household and commercial taps often fail under those conditions. Seals wear out. Corrosion and limescale damage internal parts. Actuators break. Metal taps are removed for their scrap value.
When the tap fails, the rest of the water system may still be intact. The tank can be full, the filter can be working, and the pipes can be carrying water, but access stops at the final point of delivery.
Splash designed the Durable Tap around the reasons taps fail.
Splash began with field research in Addis Ababa and Nairobi. The team studied how taps were used, maintained, broken, and removed. They spoke with students, school administrators, buyers, tradespeople, and others who understood the problem from different points of view.
The research produced a clear design brief. A better tap needed to resist theft and tampering, remain hygienic and easy to use, withstand frequent daily operation, work with existing infrastructure, and remain affordable enough to scale.
Rather than adapt another household tap, Splash designed a new product around the realities of public WASH infrastructure.
How it works
Smarter geometry, not heavier metal.
The Durable Tap addresses multiple failure points through one integrated design. Its security does not depend on making the tap larger or heavier. It comes from reducing the surfaces, leverage, and material value that make conventional taps easy to remove.
A compact, domed form.
The exterior provides little to grip, twist, or lever by hand.
A stepped front.
The stepped front helps keep fingers away from the outlet while the knob is being turned.
A simplified internal mechanism.
Standardized components and a durable ceramic valve reduce failure points and support supply-chain efficiency.
Flow-directing geometry.
The tap directs water away from the wall to make it easier to use and to reduce splashing around the installation point.
Lead-free materials.
The tap is manufactured from lead-free, WRAS-approved materials.
Retrofit compatibility.
A standard 1/2-inch horizontal mounting thread allows the tap to integrate with existing water infrastructure.
Tested in the field. Tested for endurance.
0
Reported theft incidents across school deployments
Kenya · Ethiopia · India
Countries with school deployments
During field testing in Nairobi, conventional brass taps were stolen within days, while Durable Taps remained in place without theft or tampering.
The product has since been deployed in schools in Kenya, Ethiopia, and India, with no reported theft incidents and strong user acceptance. The Durable Tap has also been tested to 250,000 operating cycles and a burst pressure of 10 bar.
A small component protects a much larger investment.
A tap is the final point of delivery in a water system. When taps remain functional, schools can maintain access to drinking water and handwashing, reduce the burden of repairs and replacement, and get more value from the infrastructure already in place.
Reliable access also supports consistent hygiene routines. Although this effect has not yet been formally measured for the Durable Tap, keeping handwashing infrastructure functional is expected to help schools sustain positive hygiene behaviors over time.
Product status
Preparing the Durable Tap for certification and scale.
Splash is preparing the Durable Tap for compliance certification and scaled manufacturing. The goal is to make a commercially viable, highly durable tap available at a competitive price to governments, schools, utilities, health facilities, and WASH organizations.
Its standard connection allows organizations to strengthen existing infrastructure without redesigning an entire water system. Longer service life and fewer replacements can also reduce the recurring costs associated with maintaining public water points.
Get in touch
Interested in the Durable Tap?
Splash Social Enterprises is preparing the Durable Tap for broader availability. Contact us to discuss product specifications, pilot opportunities, manufacturing, pricing, or use in your WASH program.
You can also contact Splash Social Enterprises at stations@splash.org.