By Suteekshna Dubey

Abstract

Showering is one of the leading water-consuming activities at home which can cause something called “habitual water waste”, a term coined for the water that drains away unused each time during showers. This collectively comprises 20% water loss in any household. Generally, the authorities and other environmentalists suggest taking fewer showers to combat climate change. The real problem boils down to the regulation of such activities and their voluntary nature. This policing is not possible during every scenario and hence the concept of eco-showers is introduced in the USA and many other countries. This will ensure minimal water loss while showering and standards set for these fixtures would ensure water conservation.

INTRODUCTION

The United Nations refers to water as the “primary medium through which we feel the effects of climate change” and the World Economic Forum continually ranks the water crises as one of the top five risks in its annual Global Risks Perception Survey. In the United States alone, showers are the third largest point of water consumption. Due to water shortage, numerous governments and public utilities are being compelled to make large investments in the creation and application of a variety of water solutions, such as dual supply systems, shower visual display monitors, and the installation of rainwater tanks. These programs seek to improve urban water security through more prudent and sustainable water use to satisfy future demand.

SDG GOAL 13

Sustainable Development Goal 13 i.e., climate change, adopted by all UN members in 2015, provides a shared blueprint that the countries have to follow. Target 13.2 elaborates on States to integrate climate change measures into policies and planning and directs them to promote eco-friendly products. Eco showers in bathroom fixtures are one the products that could aid in achieving this goal.

Eco-Shower head also known as green, or water-saving head is designed to save water while offering a relaxing and effective showering experience. Due to their capacity for resource conservation, energy cost reduction, and contribution to international sustainability initiatives, eco shower heads are becoming more and more well-liked. Due to their capacity to conserve resources, reduce energy costs, and support global sustainability efforts, eco shower heads have grown in popularity.

Eco shower heads differ mainly in how they regulate the flow of water, preserving it without sacrificing comfort. Air-injection technology does this by combining air and water to form smaller droplets that cover a more extensive area with less water.

The shower head, a crucial component of our bathroom amenities, has a direct impact on water conservation and bather satisfaction. It is crucial to understand the shower’s expected discharge parameters in order to build a water-efficient and enjoyable shower. In the most recent research, a theoretical model representing the motion of the jet from a shower head’s spray holes is established using the shower head structure, the water jet characteristics, and the Lagrangian control volume (CV) element integration approach.

HIDDEN COSTS OF INEFFICIENT CONSUMPTION

Old shower heads generally use 6 to 8 gallons of water per minute (gpm). According to American Water Works Association research, we typically take an eight-minute shower. One of those shower heads will use 48 to 64 gallons of water for an eight-minute shower. A shorter shower will use less water than the 15-minute shower at some of us enjoy taking, which can use 90 to 120 gallons. Showerheads manufactured after 1994 were to utilize no more than 2.5 gpm, according to regulatory mandates that were implemented nearly 20 years ago. In an 8-minute shower every day, the modern shower head may save up to 44 gallons of water or more than 16,000 gallons in a year.

A showerhead water flow is limited by federal regulation to 2.5 gallons per minute as of 1994. Following the introduction of more opulent shower fixtures with many nozzles by manufacturers, the US administration changed the regulation such that the same cap can be applied to the entire fixtures. According to environmentalists, this helps in combating climate change by lowering the use of energy derived from fossil fuels. These restrictions on water flow rates have also assisted Western states in coping with a severe drought that has caused some reservoirs to reach or approach historic lows.

INDIAN STANDARDS

In India, under multiple water management and environmental policies the government has launched schemes and policies to regulate the flow of water and these bathroom fixtures. Under Part A: Engineering Design, Chapter 15, Showers are expected to be designed to use less water by reducing the flow of water by regular showers flow at 15 to 20 liters of water per minute (LPM) or even more, whereas these new showers will typically flow at 6-8 LPM and save water by 60%, reducing hot water demand and save power. Another benefit of eco shower heads is their indirect effects on energy efficiency. Reduction in temperature is proportional to less energy which lowers the expenses.

National Water Mission, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is collaborating with the Bureau of Indian Standards, to develop Standards with respect to domestic appliances i.e., washing machines, water purifiers, dishwashers, taps, bath showers, cisterns, and sanitary appliances to improve water use efficiency. Moreover, the Green Plumbing Code Supplement classifies the products based on flow rates and technical designs. Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) introduces a national rating to rate a building based on the degree of “greenness” thereby enlisting all the components to categorise the building under green building. Criterion 11 of GRIHA elaborates upon the reduction of water consumption in the building by using efficient fixtures. The new rating system in India under Bharat Tap will have 3, 4 and 5-star water fixtures based on their water efficiency which will be formulated under AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) to drive water efficiency and can be achieved only if water outlets are efficient including sanitary fixtures. According to the data, through this initiative, 30% of water can be saved. Similarly, the Smart City concept is also promoting the installation of these water-efficient fixtures.

The policies in India are inclined towards introducing smart technologies like Eco showers to achieve SDG goal 13 via these policies and incorporating new construction standards is the first step towards this cause. But, there are many households and areas around the country where the impact of these fixtures is huge, especially areas of high-density population and limited water supply. Eco-showers are still known to be categorised under luxury products and mandating it to every household in India would take some time and planning. Countries like the US, Australia, and Switzerland have already taken steps to achieve this objective, and India needs to regulate at the grassroots level. Incorporating these standards in the Smart Cities scheme and other spheres has opened room for more developmental opportunities and new technologies that could support the objective. One way to fast-track these schemes is to make these fixtures available at a subsidised rate.  

CONCLUSION

The article emphasises the impact that shower heads attached to our bathing area can have if we use them judiciously and conform to technological innovations. Eco-showers are one way to achieve water conservation. The technology used by these showers would help understand daily water wastage from the households and later on, be used to draft appropriate policies. The schemes and programs currently in force aim to install fixtures with a particular water flow but regulating at the individual level is still a challenge that the States might face currently.

Author’s Bio

Suteekshna Dubey is a final year law student (three-year LL.B. programme) at Jindal Global Law School. She is interested in changes in industrial, energy, and technology sectors, affecting public policy.

Image Source: https://pro.hansgrohe.com/your-selling-points/innovative-technologies/ecosmart