How the Aqualim Showerhead Operates

In an era dominated by droughts, water shortages, and a growing environmental consciousness, long, indulgent showers seem like a luxury of the past, right? Still, many people continue to take extended showers, particularly considering that, in terms of water consumption, 10 minutes can be considered a long stretch.

In the developed world, water is relatively inexpensive. A daily 10-minute shower typically costs around $20 annually for water usage in the United States [source: NCCES]. The electricity to heat that water costs approximately $60 to $80 per year—not a substantial part of an electric bill [source: NCCES]. However, a daily 10-minute shower still consumes a significant amount of precious, life-sustaining water, essential for crop growth.

A typical showerhead uses around 5 gallons (19 liters) of water per minute, which means a 10-minute shower uses 50 gallons (190 liters) of water [source: NCCES]. That’s the equivalent of a full bathtub. By switching to a standard low-flow, water-efficient showerhead, the water usage drops to about 2.5 gallons per minute, or 25 gallons for a 10-minute shower [source: NCCES]. Even then, it still consumes more water in one shower than many families in rural Africa use in an entire day [source: CCF].

The challenge is that shampooing, conditioning, and lathering up can take time (especially with long, thick hair). Throw in additional shower treatments like steam-activated face masks, medicated shampoos that need to sit, or a deep loofah scrub, and suddenly, 10 minutes feels like a rapid shower. It’s not uncommon to spend 20 minutes under the water (particularly at 6 a.m. on a chilly morning). Time seems to fly faster than we realize.

So, how can you reduce a 100-gallon shower to one that only uses 25 gallons, or even 15 gallons? Awareness is key, as is the element of inconvenience.

In this article, we’ll explore a device called Aqualim (short for 'water limiter'). This showerhead attachment merges awareness and inconvenience, and the inventor claims it successfully cut his teenage daughters' shower durations by half.

Though many shower-monitoring gadgets are available, Aqualim approaches the problem in a unique way.

The Aqualim: Measuring Volume, Not Time

It's quite simple to use a stopwatch to time your shower, or set an alarm to signal when your designated shower time is up. However, devices that track time aren’t the most accurate for monitoring water usage because different showerheads deliver varying amounts of water. Depending on your showerhead's water efficiency, your shower could consume anywhere from 1 gallon to 7 gallons (4 to 26 liters) of water per minute [source: FYP].

If you aim to reduce water usage, rather than merely cutting your shower time, it’s beneficial to track the actual volume of water used. That’s exactly what Aqualim does: It tracks volume, not time.

Aqualim is an attachment, not a standalone showerhead. You install it onto the pipe supplying water to your shower, and then attach your showerhead to the Aqualim. This device is set to limit your shower to a fixed amount of water. The prototype of Aqualim limits the water to 40 liters (11 gallons), which should last about five minutes when using a water-efficient showerhead (the final amount may vary if or when the device is available commercially).

The unit measures volume through a hydraulic motor. As water flows through Aqualim, the motor spins, which drives a counter to track the liters used. As the counter approaches 40 liters, the water pressure drops. This is the "warning mode." Once 40 liters is reached, the device reduces the flow to a mere trickle.

However, the story doesn’t end there – if you’re still covered in soap, you can continue your shower by turning off the water and then turning it back on. This resets the counter, and the process begins again from the start.

This feature, though certainly practical, raises an interesting question: If you can simply turn the shower back on, how is it really helping to conserve water?

Saving Water

If you're spending 20 minutes in the shower, you're probably not paying much attention to the clock. Instead, you're likely enjoying the warmth of the hot water. Aqualim interrupts that routine – or at least forces you to reconsider it.

The core concept of Aqualim is twofold: first, to increase bathers' awareness of their water consumption as they use it. Since people installing Aqualim are likely concerned about conserving water, simply being alerted every time they reach the 11-gallon (40-liter) threshold should have a noticeable impact.

The second aspect is a bit of irritation: Each time users want to extend their shower, they must endure a few cold seconds while turning the water off and on. It's like having someone burst into the bathroom every five minutes and shout, "GET OUT!" You can stay longer, but it may be quicker to finish up before you face the next interruption.

At the very least, you'll likely be motivated to buy a more efficient showerhead so you can gain a few extra minutes before the interruption kicks in.

The Australian inventor of Aqualim reports that when he first installed it, his teenage daughters were using the unit three or four times per shower. Over time, they reduced their shower time to just one or two cycles [source: Daily]. Even cutting shower time by 5 to 10 minutes each day could save anywhere from 5 to 35 gallons (19 to 130 liters) of water, or up to 12,775 gallons (48,000 liters) annually – roughly enough to fill a small residential pool [source: ASI].

In March 2009, Aqualim earned the ABC Australia New Inventors Award, which could lead to a manufacturing deal. While waiting for that, you might consider other water-saving options, such as the Shower Manager, which limits water flow after a set time, or the "It Makes Sense Shower Head," which uses a pull-chain to regulate water pressure. There's also the Waitek Shower Monitor available in Australia, which attaches to the showerhead to track water temperature and time, beeping after 8 minutes of water use and resetting after a few minutes unless the water is turned back on.

Now there's a way to turn showering into a less enjoyable experience.