Nigel’s Road Test: the Water Pebble Water Saver
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 by Nigel
I’ve been using the Waterpebble to save water in the shower for the last ten days, and I’m really impressed by how easy it is to use, and how quickly it starts to help change my behaviour. Start by just dropping it on the floor of your shower, as near to the drain as possible. The Waterpebble has four sensors on the sides so it can tell when water is flowing and when it has stopped - clever!
The first time I used it, the traffic light-style display started merrily twinkling away, as the Waterpebble remembers how long I spend in the shower. Then, from Day 2, using the traffic light system, it starts to gradually give me less and less time, using the green, amber and red lights to gently remind me that it’s time to stop day dreaming and get on! Ten days in and I’ve reset it to allow myself a little bit more time, and it’s obvious that the amount of time I am starting from now is very much shorter than it was over a week ago - by around 50%. The genius of the Waterpebble is that although it is subtle, you can see the effects quickly in terms of the amount of water you’re using. It also makes me think about the temperature of the shower, by making it a little cooler, I’m saving energy, and am also less inclined to stay in there too long!
Especially good for people who have to get up very early in the morning, or who have a long commute to work, or families with teenagers and children who might not understand how time spent in the shower translates to energy and money costs, the Waterpebble makes it very easy to start making savings straight away. Not only that, but it will give you an extra few minutes in the morning, which can mean the difference between having a healthy breakfast and time to reflect at home, and a guilty greasy pastry grabbed at the station and wolfed down on the hoof.
Scary facts about the shower: We use 50% more water than we did 25 years ago, partly due to the use of power showers and other appliances. Showers use about 9 litres of water per minute, and a five minute shower is equivalent to a third of a bath.
The inventor of Waterpebble, Paul Priestman, came up with the idea when he saw a sign in a hotel that asked guests to ‘Use water sparingly’, and came up with a device which gently reminds you to gradually change your behaviour over time, saving water, energy, carbon and time. It’s very small, totally unobtrusive, incredibly easy to use, and really gets you thinking about your consumption, not only of water but in every area of life. Although it’s designed to be subtle and not nag you into using less water and energy, I actually found myself watching it like a hawk. Waterpebble is meant to slowly change your behaviour, but I found my showers started to feel shorter and shorter (and my breakfasts more leisurely) after no time at all!
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