Spotted: Water stress affects 30 per cent of the European population each year on average. As drought continues to affect more and more communities, it is essential for almost every region of the world to reduce water waste and maximise efficiencies. In the home, kitchens and bathrooms rack up significant amounts of water usage, so any reduction in those amounts could make a substantial difference. Global bathroom and kitchen fittings brand GROHE is working towards this goal.

The company recently introduced its water-recycling shower concept. Users switch to the recycling mode after washing, and the system cleans and reheats the water before sending it back through the pipes. Using the system could reduce a household of four’s expenses by up to €1,300 per year. For a 10-minute shower, the technology could reduce water use by up to 75 per cent and energy use by up to 66 per cent compared to a traditional system.

The system works in three stages. First, fresh water comes out of the shower when the user first turns it on. Once the user has finished using shampoo and soap, they press the recycling button and the water collected in the drain is pumped into a circuit where it is hygienically treated and kept at the desired temperature. Finally, once the user has finished the shower, the water is cleaned and prepared for the next user.

By making it possible for people to make a difference without drastically changing their habits or routines, innovations such as GRPHE’s shower have a high probability of being adopted. Additionally, the recycled water shower is an important addition to the conceptualisation and realisation of sustainable homes and lifestyles.

Other water conservation innovations spotted by Springwise include a blackwater recycling system for a skyscraper and a ‘fitbit-for-the-home’ water meter.

Written By: Keely Khoury