Future Showers May Conserve Up To 90% Of Water

How do astronauts shower? Here’s the gist of it: astronauts step into a cylinder-shaped shower, where they use water and soap to wash much like they would on Earth. There are a few differences. First, drops of water and soap float around the shower space, owing to the lack of gravity. Second, astronauts vacuum up the remaining water at the end of their shower. In almost all cases, the water is then filtered and conserved for later use. Why is this important? This process and technology may help researchers craft a shower — one that is available to the public for everyday use — that recycles water as it is used.

The Future Of Showering
Prototypes of a futuristic shower, as discussed, use this general principle. Instead of recycling water sucked into a vacuum and through a filtration system, the showers collect water as it goes into the drain. From there, it is simply filtered and cleaned until it is ready for reuse — just like the systems in a space shuttle or a space station. Once the technology and showers are complete, they have the potential to save and conserve up to 90% of water from showering.

Timeless Problems
Just like anything else, the new showers wouldn’t be without their problems. Water leaks are a big problem today, and they are likely to continue giving people all over the world a headache or two (or six) in the future. Most showers leak because seals or connections wear over time. This can be fixed by reestablishing seals; various types of hose clamps (a fastener used for indoor plumbing applications and some automotive repair), including constant tension hose clamps and silicone hose clamps, are an option. You may also need to replace o-rings or tighten loose washers, depending on the particular shower and valve in question. Since the shower head or drip mechanisms in new showers are expected to stay more or less the same, new showers will likely leak the same way over time.

In a few short years, showers may be able to conserve and recycle the water consumers use. Leaks will likely be an inevitably, and having various types of hose clamps (which apply pressure from all sides and seal leaks) and washers is always a good idea.