Plumbing fixture and methods of operation

A system for counteracting biofilm formation in a plurality of plumbing fixtures, the system comprising:

• a plurality of plumbing fixtures;
• a plurality of sensors each associated with a respective one of the plumbing fixtures;
• a plurality of local computing systems each associated with a respective plumbing fixture and operatively connected to the sensor associated with that plumbing fixture for monitoring a parameter relating to microbial presence therewithin;
• and
• a remote computing system associated with the plurality of plumbing fixtures, wherein the plurality of local computing systems and the remote computing system are configured to:
• monitor, for each plumbing fixture, the parameter relating to microbial presence within that plumbing fixture;
• determine, for each plumbing fixture, a level of risk related to biofilm formation based on the monitored parameter for that plumbing fixture based on sensor data received by the local computing system;
• and
• apply, for each plumbing fixture, a countermeasure in accordance with the determined level of risk for that plumbing fixture if a countermeasure is required in order to counteract biofilm formation.

A remote computing system for counteracting biofilm formation in a plurality of plumbing fixtures, wherein the remote computing system is configured to:

• receive, from each of a plurality of local computing systems, sensor data representative of a parameter relating to microbial presence within one of the plumbing fixtures;
• determine, for each plumbing fixture, a level of risk related to biofilm formation based on the received sensor data;
• and
• send the determined risk level, or a countermeasure determined in accordance with the determined risk level, to the or a local computing system which directly operates each plumbing fixture associated with the determined risk level if a countermeasure is required in order to counteract biofilm formation.

A system for counteracting biofilm formation in a plumbing fixture, the system comprising:

• a plumbing fixture;
• a sensor for monitoring a parameter relating to microbial presence within the plumbing fixture;
• a local computing system operatively connected to the sensor and configured to monitor the parameter using the sensor;
• and
• a remote computing system configured to determine a level of risk related to biofilm formation based on the parameter monitored by the local computing system;
• wherein the system is configured to apply a countermeasure to the plumbing fixture, in accordance with the determined level of risk, in order to counteract biofilm formation.