The History of the Recirculating Shower: From Space Tech to Everyday Sustainability

Recirculating showers (also called closed-loop or circular showers) capture and reuse shower water during the session, often using combinations of filtration, UV treatment, thermal control, and small fresh-water top-ups.

Early experiments were primitive; modern systems apply advanced treatment and smart controls to deliver a full-pressure, hot shower with dramatic water- and energy-use reductions.

This timeline traces the key inventors, companies, and milestones that shaped the journey from early concepts to today’s high-efficiency systems.

 

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Early Innovations (18th – 20th Century)

Long before modern sustainability discourse, inventors explored ways to reuse bath water.

In 1767 London stove-maker William Feetham patented what is considered the first recycling shower. His hand-pumped device drew water from a basin and sent it back overhead — a remarkable idea for its time, though the water was reused without treatment or temperature control.

It demonstrated the closed-loop concept centuries ahead of practical technology.

In 1973, NASA’s Skylab space station introduced a shower that sprayed and vacuum-collected roughly 2.8 litres of water for reuse. This system, developed for zero-gravity hygiene, proved that even a few litres could be continually reclaimed with adequate filtration and collection hardware.

Other inventors revisited the concept later in the century.

• 1979 – Billy G. Bloys patented a motorised recirculating shower using an electric pump but no filtration or reheating.

• 1988 – Francis R. Keeler filed a design for a portable “Travellers’ Shower” aimed at RVs and boats.

 Though none reached commercialisation, they recognised the appeal of conserving water while maintaining personal comfort.

 

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Space-Age Inspiration and 1980s Prototypes

By the late 1980s, drought awareness and off-grid living renewed interest.

A 1989 U.S. patent by Jack Houser and John Pawlak described a self-contained recirculating shower with pumps, dual tanks, heater, and activated-carbon filtration — essentially the first full-featured closed-loop shower for terrestrial use.

Although it never became a consumer product, it anticipated many modern design principles.

NASA’s continued research into spacecraft water purification — silver-ion sterilisation, nanofibre filtration, and advanced heat recovery — kept the concept alive in engineering circles. These technologies later inspired designers seeking Earth-bound efficiency.

 

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2000s – Pioneering Prototypes and Patents

Environmental awareness and improved sensors made the early 2000s fertile ground for new attempts.

2005 – Peter Brewin (UK) developed a prototype recycling shower while at Imperial College London. It reclaimed about 70 percent of water in real time through filtration and heat-pasteurisation, dramatically reducing both water and energy demand.

The design evolved into CINTEP, an Australian venture led by Nick Christy, which in 2011 won the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. CINTEP’s system filtered and heat-sterilised water to 72 °C, mixing in cool fresh water to maintain comfort and safety.

The savings of around 70 percent for both water and energy were significant, but as with many new technologies, so was the price. The unit was projected to retail for around £3,500 at the time — roughly £5,100, or about A$10,000 in today’s terms.

The innovation also faced certification and investment hurdles, but it did prove the concept’s technical viability.

By 2014 CINTEP was highlighted as a cleantech breakthrough but remained pre-commercial. Its efforts demonstrated that hygienic, high-performance closed-loop showers were achievable and encouraged others to pursue similar designs.

 

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2010 – 2015 : First Wave of Consumer Recirculating Showers

The mid-2010s saw multiple startups race to market, using improved filtration and digital controls.

Orbital Systems (2012 → Sweden)

Industrial designer Mehrdad Mahdjoubi founded Orbital Systems after collaborating with NASA and Lund University on Mars-habitat research.

His “Shower of the Future,” later branded Oas, employed NASA-inspired NanoCeram filters, UV sterilisation, and sensors to monitor quality, ejecting only contaminated water while recirculating the rest.

Tests indicated up to 90 percent water and 80 percent energy savings, with flow rates equal to or higher than conventional showers.

By 2015 Orbital had secured high-profile investors and awards, signalling a new commercial era.

Hamwells e-Shower (2015 → Netherlands)

Dutch startup Hamwells BV unveiled the e-Shower at TechCrunch Disrupt London 2015.

It allowed users to toggle between a standard “fresh-flow” mode and a “Refresh Cycle” that reused water several times through micro-filtration and UV treatment.

Additional features included app connectivity and self-cleaning cycles.

Priced around €2,950, it targeted eco-conscious homeowners and early adopters.

Open-Source ShowerLoop Project (2013 → Finland)

Independent developer Mikko Paakkanen launched an open-source design community that shared plans for a DIY recirculating shower using multi-stage filters and UV-C sterilisation.

The project popularised the idea among engineers and van-life hobbyists and proved that low-cost recycling was possible with accessible components, even if not mass-produced.

Together, these ventures established the first recognisable consumer generation of recirculating showers and moved the concept from prototype to purchasable product.

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2016 – 2020 : Expansion and Diversification

Innovation accelerated as water-scarcity headlines and off-grid lifestyles created new niches for closed-loop showers.  Different regions and use-cases produced distinct technical solutions.

Upfall Shower (Netherlands – 2016)

Inventor René Betgem introduced the Upfall Shower, a high-flow rain-shower that recycles roughly 80–90 percent of its water through multi-stage filtration and UV-C treatment, adding a small stream of fresh hot water to maintain temperature and hygiene.  With flow rates up to 35 L/min and a luxury feel, it drew national attention, government interest, and more than 1,000 installations in Dutch homes and hotels.  In 2025 the technology was acquired by Hydraloop, positioning it for global rollout.

Hotaru / WOTA (Japan – 2016)

Tokyo-based startup Hotaru debuted a compact portable shower for camping and disaster relief.  Using about 20 litres of water in a closed tank, multiple filters, and sensors, it achieved reuse rates near 95–98 percent.  The design evolved into WOTA Inc., which deployed emergency shower stations after earthquakes and floods—proof that recirculating showers can provide resilience as well as comfort.

EverShower (Australia – 2016)

Invented by Larry Tofler, the EverShower offered a folding enclosure and pump that continually recycled water from its base tray.  A few litres of water could deliver an extended hot shower, appealing to campers and van-lifers.  Launched on Kickstarter around A$299, it remains a popular portable option sold through outdoor retailers.

Flow Loop (Denmark – 2016 → 2022)

Designers Simon Kolff and Troels Grene created Flow Loop ApS to retrofit existing showers with a modular panel and smart drain cover.  The system filters and UV-treats used water, re-injecting it to the showerhead while adding about 1 L/min of fresh water.  In 2020 Inter IKEA Group invested in the company to develop a mass-market “Loop Shower.”  Pilot sales began in Europe in 2022.

Orbital Systems (Commercial Launch – 2017)

By 2017 Orbital’s Oas Shower entered full production for premium homes and hotels.  Thousands of units were installed across Scandinavia and Europe at roughly US $3,500–$4,000 each, confirming consumer appetite for high-end circular showers.

Other Start-ups and DIY Growth

The period also saw numerous small campaigns and hobby projects.  Products such as the Refresh Shower and van-conversion DIY kits extended awareness beyond early adopters.  While these systems varied in sophistication, collectively they normalised the idea of reusing shower water safely.

 

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2021 – 2025 : Mainstream Momentum

The early 2020s brought bigger players and broader acceptance of circular bathing technology.

RainStick (Canada – 2019 → 2023)

Founded by Alisha and Sean McFetridge, RainStick developed a wall-mounted smart shower that filters and UV-sterilises water in real time, reusing about 80 percent.  Connected via Wi-Fi, it tracks savings and integrates with smart-home assistants.  Retailing around C $5,000, it launched commercially in 2022 and entered U.S. showrooms in 2023, positioning itself as North America’s first circular shower.

Infinity Shower (USA – 2021)

U.S. startup Sabbatical released the Infinity Shower for vans, boats, and tiny homes.  It recirculates less than 4 litres of water through micro-filters and UV treatment, switching between “fresh rinse” and “recirculate” modes.  Priced near US $4,000–5,000, it quickly gained traction within the off-grid community.

Hydraloop Upfall and Industry Partnerships (2020 → 2025)

Dutch water-tech firm Hydraloop—best known for home grey-water systems—partnered with Upfall Shower in 2020 and launched the Hydraloop Upfall Shower at ISH 2025.  The integration brought corporate scale and distribution through partners such as Hansgrohe, signalling that established bathroom brands see closed-loop showers as a core future product category.  In parallel, Kohler Co. (Mira Ltd.) filed patents for similar systems in 2025, indicating wider industry adoption.

Regulation and Market Signals

Rising drought risk in Australia, California, and southern Europe encouraged interest from utilities and governments.  Local rebate and code programs began to reference water-recycling fixtures, and sustainability certifications started acknowledging point-of-use recycling.  Analysts now view recirculating showers as a likely component of net-zero building strategies.

 

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2026 — Next Chapter

2026 – ShowerLoop (Australia): A new generation of circular shower technology will debut in 2026, continuing the global movement toward sustainable, resource-efficient bathing.

 

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Comparative Overview of Notable Recirculating Shower Systems

 

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Decade-by-Decade Highlights

• Pre-1950s — Conceptual Beginnings:  A few mechanical curiosities explored water reuse, but abundant supply and hygiene limits prevented adoption.

• 1970s — Space Age:  NASA’s research proved minimal-water showering feasible under controlled conditions.

• 1980s — Prototype Era:  Drought awareness and RV/boat patents introduced the pump-filter-heater triad still used today.

• 2000s — Modern Foundations:  CINTEP and related prototypes solved hygiene through heat sterilisation and digital control, validating the closed-loop model.

• 2010–2015 — Commercial Firsts:  Orbital Systems, Hamwells, and open-source initiatives made circular showers available for purchase or replication.

• 2016–2020 — Diversification:  Portable, luxury, and retrofit solutions emerged; the concept reached campers, hotels, and eco-builders alike.

• 2021–2025 — Mainstreaming:  Partnerships with IKEA, Hydraloop, Hansgrohe, and others signalled transition from niche innovation to recognised bathroom category.

 

Closing the loop.

From William Feetham’s 18th-century pump to NASA’s vacuum shower and today’s digitally managed systems, the recirculating shower story mirrors society’s changing relationship with water.  Over three centuries, engineers have addressed the twin challenges of comfort and conservation—first mechanically, later through electronics and advanced treatment.

As of 2025, several manufacturers across Europe, North America, and Asia offer closed-loop showers claiming 70–90 percent reductions in water and energy use.  Early installations in homes, hotels, and off-grid dwellings demonstrate tangible savings and improved user experience.  With climate pressures intensifying and major plumbing brands investing in the technology, the late 2020s could mark the decade when circular showers move from luxury innovation to mainstream fixture.