Faucet responds to the human touch

Our kitchen-sink faucet is relatively new and works great, but I want to replace it immediately. That's because I just discovered the Delta Pilar kitchen faucet, an elegant, beautifully designed faucet that operates almost magically.

The Pilar (pa-'lar) faucet is equipped with something Delta calls, Touch2O technology, which allows you to operate the faucet with a simple touch. That's right, there's no need to grasp the faucet's single lever to turn on the water. Just touch the goose-neck faucet with the back of your hand, wrist, forearm, elbow--or any other part of your body, I presume--to activate the water flow. Touch it again to turn off the water.

This one-touch feature isn't only super convenient and radically cool, it's also very hygienic.

Think how many times you've reached for the faucet after handling raw meat and fish, not to mention garbage, dirty diapers, kitty litter and rotted food.

With this faucet, you're much less likely to contaminate the faucet handle--and other people--with germs and bacteria. (We're constantly being told to wash our hands, but what good is that if the faucet handles are tainted?)

The one-touch feature is powered by four C-size batteries, which typically last about two years. An LED alerts you when the batteries are running low.

If the batteries do die, you can operate the faucet manually. You can also deactivate the touch sensor at any time, if you'd like.

The Pilar comes in a choice of two finishes---chrome or stainless steel--and is equipped with a pull-down wand that attaches easily and securely to the faucet via an internal magnet.

Delta calls it the MagnaTite Docking System, which sounds like something you'd find on the international space station.

The Pilar faucet with soap dispenser has a list price of $585, but can be found on-line for about $350.

The Delta representative I spoke with said that although Touch2O technology is currently only available on the Pilar model, the company expects to add it to other faucets in the near future--so keep in touch.