About Waterblade
"How can we significantly reduce the amount of water and energy we use?"
Living in the seaside city of Brighton, inventor of Waterblade, Nigel Bamford became aware of the scarcity of water not just worldwide but here in the UK. Since 1960 the amount of water people use in the UK has increased by 66%.
We are now consuming 141 litres of water per day. If present levels of consumption continue not just for us but worldwide, two-thirds of the global population will live in areas of water stress by 2025.
Water is hidden in all that we see: in our cars, our clothing, even in our sandwiches.
We can easily reduce our water footprints. We can buy water efficient white goods, turn off the tap while we brush our teeth and fix leaks, but how can we make a significant reduction in water consumption and the energy used getting it to us?
Inspired by the Dyson Air Blade, which was improved by spreading the air flow out, Nigel created the water saving device Waterblade to save significant amounts of water. With the help of Innovate UK, the EU and the Green Growth Platform he developed it to fit easily to most taps.
It uses the surface tension of the water to spread a small flow into a sheet making it efficient for washing and rinsing but using dramatically less water. It uses between 1.9 and 2.7 litres per minute, compared to a normal tap which uses 10 to 20 litres per minute.
The Waterblade has been fitted in some of the UK’s most recognisable buildings (HSBC Canary Wharf, Birmingham Bull Ring Shopping Centre, The Leadenhall Building also known as the Cheese Grater) and many more worldwide.
The product itself has developed in sophistication. It is now electro-chrome plated and incorporates state of the art flow control, meaning it is totally ‘plug and play’. All you need to do is change the nozzle on your tap, and the flow is optimised for all mains pressures.
Waterblade has won the top UK innovation and water industry awards both in the UK and overseas and is now used by companies such as Sainsbury’s, HSBC, Microsoft, Unilever and many others.
Maintains performance
Waterblade is fantastic at washing and rinsing, so is suitable for wash-hand basins in cloakrooms and bathrooms. It is also great in kitchen sinks saving 75% of the water in the basin.
Fits almost all taps
Waterblade works at mains pressure on a wide range mixer taps in a household and washroom settings. As well as manual mixer taps it works on non-percussive (Push) taps, sensor taps (Automatic) and some single taps, if they have the correct removable collar.
FAQs
Waterblade fits most mixer taps whose nozzles are the size of a 10p coin, see our guide to be sure.
No, just an adjustable spanner or special fitting tool available in our shop, then follow the instructions.
If your usage is typical, £25 to £75 per year on water and water heating bills. This amount varies because water and gas cost different amounts in different regions. How often your tap is used shall also make a difference as well as other factors, such as the age of your boiler.
Waterblade is great at washing and rinsing, but slow to fill your kettle.
You may, yes, but you shall waste less water waiting than before, and levels of cold water discomfort are also reduced, so you can use the water sooner.
Some boilers have an eco setting where no hot water is stored, it is heated on demand. Waterblade works better with this setting switched off.
Only if they have removable nozzle, see fitting guide.
Yes, this is often possible. See our fitting page.
Simple DIY skills, use of spanner is required.
Yes, Waterblade is great at washing and rinsing, ideal for Bathroom basin taps and Wash-room taps.
You may not have enough pressure to make the Waterblade work, the minimum pressure required is 0.3 bar, or 3m head, the top of the water in your tank needing to be 3m or more above the tap in question.
At the low flow of around 2.5 Litres per minute nothing does a better job of washing and rinsing than the Waterblade.