Why taps outside house ?

We are surrounded by apartment complex and don't see newer independent houses coming along in the neighborhood.. Is it good or bad.. that gets into a separate topic but why did they had taps outside the houses in early days..Yes tap/bucket of water/some means of water available in front and front/back of the house. People getting into the house will freshen up and wash their hands and legs before entering in. This has been there in most of the homes and with the apartment complex where will the water drain ? ;) Jokes apart.. this was required because people were walking bare foot most of the time and they don't want to bring in any infection inside the house. They want to be clean when entering the house so that people in the house are safe. There is also a culture which is still followed where people wash legs and bath in the backyard if they go to death..or the house where someone died recently. To keep themselves and environment clean this has been followed and more apparently because the bathrooms were outside the house. It is also common to bath in the backyard after having a haircut/shaving. People who live close by to river/lake will even go to river after their haircut for bathing. Its also a habit for the guests to use the tap before getting into house. This is also similar to what they do in the temples and most of the temples still have this available.

Why/Reasons:
* To keep environment clean and eliminate any infection due to their job/visit. Straight and simple :-)

Now:
* Most of us don't walk barefoot. If we wear shoes, this will not be necessary unless shoes are so dirty.

* With the apartment, we don't have backyard or taps in front of the house. If we have a tap, me and my neighbor will be watering each others hallway.

* If you use hand sanitizer outside your home you protect yourself from infection but when entering the house it will feel better to use the bathroom to eliminate the infection.

* Making this as a habit for everyone will make sure kids do this when they are back from school or playground.