Commercial Tech, Now at Home: Bringing Trusted Public-Space Filtration into Everyday Living

By Krystal Pesch, Senior Director, Portfolio Management, Zurn Elkay

For years, families have relied on Elkay’s commercial bottle filling stations for cleaner, great-tasting water everywhere life takes them — schools, gyms, airports, and workplaces. That touchless convenience and digital bottle-saving counter have become symbols of safety, sustainability, and peace of mind.

Now, that same commercial-grade filtration has been re-imagined for the home through Liv EZ™, a built-in filtered water dispenser designed to deliver cleaner, healthier hydration to every room in your house.

Why Bring Commercial Filtration into the Home?

Hydration is central to modern wellness routines, yet an aging U.S. drinking water infrastructure access to clean, convenient drinking water in the home hasn’t kept pace with today’s lifestyle demands. While reusable water bottles are now part of everyday life, many households still rely on single-use plastic water bottles or basic refrigerator and pitcher filters that provide convenience, but not robust protection against harmful contaminants.

Elkay research found that bottled water is still the most common source of drinking water in American homes, followed by refrigerator dispensers. Families expressed a desire for better solutions, ones that meet rising concerns around water quality and reduce plastic waste. Clean water touches every aspect of daily life, but until now there were limited solutions outside the kitchen.

Elkay has long been recognized as the leading authority in high-performance water filtration, powering trusted bottle fillers in schools, office buildings, gyms, and airports. Extending that same level of protection to the home is a natural and necessary evolution, allowing families to access cleaner, healthier water wherever they need it.

 The Home Water Quality Problem Most Families Don't Know They Have

Here's the dangerous truth: the worst contaminants in your water are completely invisible. Lead. PFAS "forever chemicals." Microplastics. These substances are increasingly detected in municipal water systems across the country, and they pose serious long-term health risks—especially for children. The EPA estimates that up to 10 million American homes still receive water through lead service lines.

Yet most families assume their water is safe because it looks and tastes clean.

Even families using filters may not be protected. Basic pitcher and refrigerator filters often improve taste but are not designed to remove health-related contaminants. Many are not certified for advanced contaminant reduction, creating false confidence that your filtered water is actually clean.

The only reliable way to confirm filtration strength is by checking NSF/ANSI certifications 42, 53, and 401, which address taste issues, lead, PFAS, microplastics, and a wide range of harmful chemical compounds.

Commercial-Grade Filtration, Re-Engineered for the Home

Liv EZ delivers up to 2,250 gallons of NSF-certified filtration over a full year—that's roughly 18,000 standard water bottles worth of clean water before you need to change the filter. This is significantly longer than refrigerator and pitcher filters.

To adapt commercial technology to residential spaces, Elkay engineers tackled the challenge of fitting a full filtration system inside a standard interior wall cavity between two studs. The result is a sleek, in-wall hydration station that requires only a water line, no electrical installation needed.

 Designed for Real Life, Not Just the Kitchen

The breakthrough with Liv EZ isn't just filtration performance—it's placement flexibility.

Think about where your family actually needs water throughout the day:

• Home gyms and workout spaces – Fill bottles mid-workout without trekking to the kitchen
• Mudrooms and entryways – Hydrate immediately after sports, walks, or outdoor activities
• Second floors and hallways – Eliminate nighttime trips downstairs
• Playrooms and basements – Keep kids hydrated during play
• Garages and workshops – Access clean water during projects

Early testers consistently noted increased household water consumption, reduced reliance on single-use plastic bottles, easier morning routines, and seamless integration into home décor. Many families expressed interest in placing Liv EZ in multiple locations, not just kitchens, because convenience dramatically improved hydration behavior.

Sleek Design That Elevates Your Space

Liv EZ doesn't look like a utility fixture—it's designed like a modern architectural element.

Features:

• Durable glass front panel with stainless-steel accents
• Tall dispensing alcove (fits 40 oz bottles and tumblers)
• Intuitive activation button with instant shut-off
• Frameless design inspired by contemporary picture frames
• Fits inside standard wall cavity (no electrical required—just a water line)

Unlike bulky countertop systems or under-sink filters hidden away, Liv EZ becomes an intentional design feature that signals wellness and sustainability.

The Future of Home Hydration

Looking ahead, Elkay anticipates a future where every floor of the home has access to filtered water, much like electrical outlets and lighting. Installation is expected to become increasingly common in new construction and renovation projects, with emerging engineering and design enhancements such as faster fill rates, smarter dispensing technology, and expanded finish options tailored to interior design trends.

Hydration is becoming a core component of whole-home wellness, sustainability, and practical convenience. Liv EZ positions your home for that future, today.

Tips for Maximizing Liv EZ in the Home

• Consider daily routines such as the morning rush, workouts, after-school activities, and nighttime hydration.
• Choose locations outside the kitchen to expand access and reduce congestion.
• Create a dedicated hydration zone by storing reusable bottles nearby.
• Track bottle-savings to encourage sustainability habits and increase water intake.

A New Standard for Home Hydration

Liv EZ represents a major advancement in home wellness and sustainability by combining the safety of commercial-grade filtration with the convenience and style modern families expect. It removes uncertainty about water quality, minimizes plastic waste, and brings hydration closer to daily routines, wherever they happen.

Clean water should be convenient, accessible, and part of every room where your family lives, works, plays, and recovers.

Ready to bring commercial-grade filtration home? Shop Liv EZ and learn more at Elkay.com/LivEZ.

About the Author

As Senior Director of Portfolio Management, Krystal Pesch leads strategic initiatives that drive growth, revenue optimization, and market expansion across Zurn Elkay’s diverse product portfolio. With deep experience in B2B marketing and strategic planning within industrial and plumbing manufacturing, she has a proven ability to translate market insights into measurable business results. Krystal is known for her collaborative leadership style, uniting cross-functional teams around customer-focused solutions that strengthen Zurn Elkay’s competitive position. She is also a committed advocate for elevating women in manufacturing and expanding pathways to leadership.

Expertise & Media Topics:

• Portfolio strategy and business growth
• B2B marketing and go-to-market excellence
• Industrial and plumbing manufacturing trends
• Cross-functional leadership and team alignment
• Advancing women in manufacturing and leadership roles