March 22 is Water Day: Saving water with innovation from Austria
ECOTURBINO® water-saving system for showers makes a significant contribution to water efficiency and environmental protection
The world's population is growing and with it the demand for water. In the past, water scarcity was limited to the world's dry belts and southern regions, but this problem is now increasingly affecting regions that were previously considered water-rich.
The results of a study conducted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna in 2016 show that water could also become scarce in Austria and lead to shortages in the coming years. The main reason for this is not just the mere lack of available water, but the inefficient use of this vital resource. The chronic problems include, for example, the waste of water due to leaking pipes, pumps and valves, inefficient use in agricultural irrigation, but also the extremely high water demand for daily showers in households in Western countries. This is shown, for example, in a study by the Ministry of Life from November 2010, where the demand for daily showers is at an all-time high. The average European uses around 45 liters1) of water a day in the shower, and the trend is rising!
The Rabmer Group, based in Altenberg near Linz, has long been involved in the topics of "water and energy efficiency" and is a pioneer in this field with innovative technologies - from water loss analysis, water treatment and the use of energy from waste water to the reduction of water consumption.
Rabmer has been marketing the ECOTURBINO® water-saving system for showers for more than a year, which saves an average of 36% water without any loss of comfort and at the same time improves hygiene in the shower by preventing the formation of biofilm and deposits in the shower hose and shower head. "The ECOTURBINO® stands for water and energy efficiency and therefore fits perfectly into our product portfolio. The recent award of the Austrian Ecolabel for this product shows that the ECOTURBINO® meets the highest quality standards and makes a significant contribution to reducing water consumption and protecting our environment," explains Ulrike Rabmer-Koller, Managing Partner of the Rabmer Group. "We see great potential for the ECOTURBINO®, especially in regions where water efficiency is becoming increasingly important.
We have therefore now also launched international sales and are focusing primarily on users in the hotel industry, healthcare facilities, private households and sports facilities. In the medium term, with 100,000 units sold, we expect an annual water saving of around 17 billion liters, combined with a resulting annual reduction in CO2 emissions of around 220,000 tons, the ECOTURBINO® is a very efficient, economical and customer-friendly environmental protection technology," concludes Rabmer-Koller.
The Rabmer Group was founded 53 years ago, currently employs around 100 people and generated a turnover of EUR 15.4 million in 2015. The family business is managed by the second generation of the family, wholly owned by Ulrike Rabmer-Koller, and has been setting the tone for more than 30 years with sustainable, innovative technologies in the areas of water, wastewater and renewable energy in addition to its traditional construction business.
