Monday, February 02, 2015 - 02:10

A space-age shower inspired by NASA can achieve water savings of up to 90 percent, says its Swedish developer. The shower's purification capsule instantly purifies water as it falls into the drain before pumping it back out of the showerhead. Amy Pollock has more.

This shower is so futuristic, it could be from Mars. Its creators say the OrbSys recycled water shower could reduce water use by 90 percent, and save energy. But although its design was inspired by NASA's mission to the red planet, Orbital System's shower is for use on earth. CEO Mehrdad Mahdjoubi was inspired after a stint at the United States space agency. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ORBITAL SYSTEMS CEO MEHRDAD MAHDJOUBI, SAYING: "What began as a collaboration project between Lund University and NASA's Johnson Space Centre, Houston, made me question the possibility of recycling water on earth, like has been done in space. The shower of the future is a water-recycling shower, thus enabling water savings up to 90 percent, energy savings up to 80 percent, at the same time increasing comfort and hygiene." The shower works on a closed loop system - water falls from the showerhead to the drain where it's purified to drinking water standard by a patented capsule. It's then pumped back out of the showerhead. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ORBITAL SYSTEMS CEO MEHRDAD MAHDJOUBI, SAYING: "After the water is collected in the drain, analysed and the shower pump shoots it through our purification system, which consists of a micro-capsule that takes away the larger particles, then it goes to the nano-capsule, which takes away all of the smaller contaminants, making sure that the water that reaches the user from the recycling loop always is crystal clear and nice to shower in." The space-age technology means long showers won't be a thing of the past, despite greater pressure on water resources. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ORBITAL SYSTEMS CEO MEHRDAD MAHDJOUBI, SAYING: "What we are actually doing is we are changing the way that we humans relate to domestic water consumption. With the shower of the future...you can live a greener lifestyle without compromising on comfort." The shower has been tested at the Ribersborgs open-air baths in the south of Sweden. The company says it saved 100,000 litres of water over four months there. And after testing it all over Sweden. the OrbSys shower is ready for launch word-wide. Its developers say the purification technology could be used in taps and drinking fountains in developing countries, where water-related illness is rife.