Low-flow shower heads are a good way to save water, but using one can be a bit like showering with a spray bottle. New Zealand company Felton, in collaboration with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has developed the Oxijet – an “air shower” head that injects tiny air bubbles into the water droplets to make the shower feel like it’s at full pressure, yet while using 50 percent less water.
"Traditional flow restrictors reduce flow and pressure, whereas Oxijet uses the flow energy to draw air into the water stream, making the water droplets hollow," Dr. Jie Wu, a fluids specialist at CSIRO said. "This expands the volume of the shower stream, meaning you can save the same amount of water, while still enjoying your shower."
There are other air shower systems, but the Oxijet is unusual in that it can be fitted to almost any standard shower fitting. It was tested at the Novotel Northbeach hotel in Wollongong, Australia, where there are water restrictions.
"With over 200 rooms we go through over 10 million liters (2,600,000 gal) of water per year, so any saving we can make is very important. We've found our customers prefer Oxijet over other 'low flow' shower heads, because it gives the illusion of full water pressure," Mr Walter Immoos, General Manager of Novotel Northbeach said.
The Oxijet is accredited by the Australian Water Efficiency and Labeling Standards scheme, and is now available for purchase in Australia.
The video below shows the Oxijet in action.
Source: CSIRO
While they are injecting airs, can someone get on sonic showers from Star Trek already!
As for it cooling the water down, thus requiring more hot water, that effect is minimal unless you're four feet or more away from the shower head (a large shower indeed!). And Albacore's comment that "aerating shower heads spread germs around" is news to me. My family has not suffered any such ill effects. I should think a fan, an exhaust fan or any fan, would be more likely to spread germs since aerated water goes down the drain, not down your throat, while air blown from a fan whirls about the room and would make germ inhalation easy. This "germ" problem is more likely an attack from the competition.
Moving water costs money, not the water itself. If you live in a place with inefficient systems to transport water, please look into that.
Self-gratification devices like this reduce the quality of your life, despite the fact that it's hip and cool this moment.
Yeah, fair point about the inefficiencies in the infrastructure, however, I fail to see how a shower head that feels like it is 'full pressure' (if it works as claimed) 'reduces the quality of your life'. I am sorry but if your quality of life depends on the profligate use of resources, then I think there may be something questionable about your perceptions.
I currently use a less sophisticated flow-controlling in-line valve accessory, and although the flow of water may be reduced, the quality of my showering experience has not been markedly reduced (indeed I forget it is there)- it doesn't add air, as this product does, and yet the quality of my life has not been affected by saving some valuable water.
What Governments really ought to do is to introduce compulsory rainwater harvesting to new-build homes for non-potable water, with secondary recycling of shower/bath water for toilet flushing. The amount of water saved would be vast.