Water is undeniably one of the most vital resources for sustaining life. In recent years, climate change has highlighted the urgency of conserving water and reducing wastage. Several technology companies have developed innovative water-conserving products to address this critical issue. These technological advancements aim to improve water efficiency at home and in various industries.
With an increasing need to conserve water, staying informed about the latest water conservation technology is crucial. To help you make informed decisions, we’ve compiled a guide to some of the best water conservation technology available. By adopting these innovative solutions, we can all contribute to preserving the planet’s most valuable resource and building a sustainable future.
1. Low-flow shower heads
We all shower to get clean and relax after a long, stressful workday (though some prefer baths). Older shower heads that don’t employ water conservation technology or design methods use up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute at the standard water pressure. (between 30 and 80 PSI). For context, that’s half a tank of your Chevy Silverado per shower for one person.
The advent of low-flow shower heads reduces the amount of water flowing through, aerating the spray from the head (allowing air into the pressurized water to decrease the amount of water used) and increases the water pressure by using smaller holes. Overall, the low-flow showerhead will reduce the energy required to shower by reducing the amount of water to at least 1.5 gallons per minute.
2. High-efficiency toilets
The toilet is one of the worst culprits of water waste in your home. On average, the toilet will use 1.6 gallons of water per flush, and the average family home flushes the toilet roughly seven times a day. That’s about 10 gallons of water per day. However, over the last twenty years, advances in water conservation technology in toilets have significantly reduced water waste (per flush) to roughly 1.28 gallons of water, a reduction of roughly 20%.
3. Copper water bottles
Copper water bottles are gaining popularity among people who prefer reusable water bottles as part of their daily water intake. Whether you take it to work or the gym, using a copper water bottle can offer several health benefits by increasing the number of minerals in your water. With these added minerals, your thirst can be quenched for longer, and the water can provide essential health benefits.
Nevertheless, it is essential to note that excess consumption of copper can be harmful. Limiting your intake to no more than three cups per day is recommended to avoid the risk of copper poisoning.
4. Orbital showers
Orbital Showers are a shower design and water technology company based in Sweden. They have created the Orbital Shower, a shower based on a closed-loop system that converts the already-used water into steam and back into usable water.
It also uses sensors in the shower itself to analyze the quality of the water, alongside an internal heating system from the shower head that adjusts the water temperature to your preferred temperature (as set by a dial). As such, the water used is purified by a water filter capsule and UV lighting, ensuring maximum quality water.
Orbital showers are among several water technology designs focusing on reusing water rather than decreasing the volume of water during the process.
5. Outdoor irrigation using smart technology
Suppose you’re a farmer or a residential homeowner with garden beds requiring constant watering to produce a fruitful crop. In that case, you’ll know the pain of walking around with a watering jug, the amount of waste potentially involved, not to mention the time it takes. Investing in an outdoor irrigation system may make the most sense.
Luckily, outdoor irrigation systems have come a long way in the last twenty years. Nowadays, many can be controlled via smart systems through WiFi from within the home or a designated control point on the property.
These systems can analyze weather patterns through satellites and utilize smart technology to detect rainfall and shut off during that time to allow nature to do its thing (older systems used to go off automatically, even during a rainstorm). Moisture detectors in some outdoor irrigation systems also increase watering during dryer periods, meaning you won’t have to worry about your crops being unwatered.
Whether you’re a farmer or want to keep your lawn looking luscious with a timer-based automated sprinkler, consider investing in smart-tech water irrigation systems.
Summing up
The precious nature of our most treasured resource has never been so threatened. With droughts in the western parts of the United States becoming more common, giant lakes drying up, and wildfires popping up seemingly everywhere, conserving water and using it intelligently has never been more crucial.
Whether it’s simple technology like a better water filtration system for your water bottle or home or a more complex and more extensive system like an in-field smart-tech irrigation system for your farm, lawn, or garden, the more water you can save and re-use through filtration, the better off you’ll be.
