An upstairs toilet overflowed and its automatic threshold for stopping the water failed to operate.

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At the sink, you thrust your hands repeatedly toward the faucet, hoping to catch the automatic eye that will turn the water on.

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You had merely to lead them to the plate-glass porch door and point out a squirrel or a cat running on the railing, or the automatic pool vacuum flipping its tail in the water as it carried on, side to side, end to end.

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