Real-world examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design

Why real examples of water-efficient product design matter now

Before we get into specific examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design, it’s worth grounding this in the numbers.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), household leaks alone waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water per year in the United States.⁴ Agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, and industry takes another big slice.⁵ As climate change drives more frequent droughts, water-efficient product design is quickly becoming a competitive advantage.

The best examples aren’t theoretical concepts or glossy prototypes. They’re products in homes, fields, and factories right now, cutting water use with measurable results.

Three flagship examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design

Let’s start with three headline cases that product teams and sustainability leads keep pointing to as benchmark examples.

1. Smart irrigation controllers in precision agriculture

If you want a clean example of water-efficient product design at scale, look at smart irrigation controllers used in agriculture and landscaping. These devices combine soil moisture sensors, weather data, and automated valves to deliver exactly the water crops or lawns need—no more, no less.

Instead of fixed schedules (“water every day at 6 a.m.”), these controllers adjust in real time. When rain is forecast, they pause. When soil moisture is high, they skip a cycle. When a heat wave hits, they adapt.

Why it matters as one of the best examples of water-efficient design:

• Studies cited by the EPA show smart irrigation controllers can reduce outdoor water use by 20–50% compared with traditional timers.¹
• In agriculture, precision irrigation systems paired with drip lines and sensors regularly deliver 30–50% water savings while maintaining or improving yields.

This is a textbook example of how sensors + software + hardware can turn a water-intensive system into a data-driven, water-efficient product ecosystem.

2. High-efficiency, low-flow fixtures that people actually like

Low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads used to be a punchline: bad pressure, bad experience. That’s changed. Modern WaterSense-labeled fixtures in the U.S. are a strong example of how performance and efficiency can coexist.

Today’s high-efficiency toilets (HETs) use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, compared with older models that use 3.5–7 gallons. High-performance showerheads cut flow from 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) to 2.0 gpm or lower, using aeration and pressure-compensating technology to maintain the feel of a stronger flow.

Why this is one of the best examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design in buildings:

• The EPA estimates that if every home in the U.S. used WaterSense-labeled fixtures, we’d save 3.9 trillion gallons of water annually and billions of dollars in water and energy costs.²
• Product innovation is now about user experience: spray patterns, noise reduction, anti-clog design, and smart integration (like app-based leak alerts).

In other words, this is not just a low-flow story; it’s a design story.

3. Closed-loop commercial dishwashers and laundry systems

In commercial kitchens, hotels, and laundries, water use has traditionally been “use once and dump.” Newer systems are flipping that logic.

Closed-loop or semi-closed-loop dishwashers and laundry systems filter, recirculate, and reuse water multiple times within the same cycle. Advanced filtration removes food particles or detergents, while heat recovery systems capture thermal energy from wastewater.

Why this belongs among the top examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design:

• Some commercial dishwashers now operate with less than half a gallon of water per rack, down from several gallons in older models.
• High-efficiency commercial washers can use up to 60–70% less water per pound of laundry compared with legacy machines.

This kind of design doesn’t just cut water; it slashes energy use for water heating and wastewater treatment, improving operating margins for businesses.

More real examples: products quietly transforming water use

Focusing only on examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design would undersell how much is happening across sectors. Here are more real examples that sustainable product teams should have on their radar.

Greywater-reuse systems in residential and commercial buildings

Greywater systems capture relatively clean wastewater from showers, bathroom sinks, and laundry, then treat and reuse it for toilet flushing or irrigation. Instead of sending that water straight to the sewer, these systems give it a second life.

Modern units are compact, modular, and often pre-certified under plumbing codes, which makes them far easier to specify in new construction or major retrofits.

Real-world impact:

• Greywater reuse can cut indoor potable water demand by 25–40% in some buildings, depending on layout and usage patterns.
• In drought-prone regions like the U.S. Southwest, these systems are increasingly included in green building standards and incentive programs.

From a design perspective, this is about integration: pumps, filters, tanks, and controls packaged into a product that installers can treat almost like a large appliance.

Water-efficient cooling systems in data centers and industry

Data centers, power plants, and factories use enormous amounts of water for cooling. Traditional cooling towers evaporate water to remove heat, consuming both water and chemicals.

New product designs are shifting toward hybrid or air-cooled systems, adiabatic coolers with ultra-precise controls, and advanced water treatment that allows multiple recirculation cycles without scaling or corrosion.

Why this is a strong example of water-efficient product design:

• Some modern data center cooling solutions have cut water usage effectiveness (WUE) by more than half compared to older evaporative systems.
• Closed-loop chillers and optimized cooling towers can reduce water blowdown and makeup water by using smarter controls and filtration.

This is less visible than a low-flow showerhead, but the absolute volumes of water saved are enormous.

On-demand, point-of-use hot water systems

Anyone who has watched gallons of cold water run down the drain waiting for the shower to warm up understands this one intuitively. On-demand, point-of-use water heaters and recirculation systems drastically reduce that waste.

By placing compact heaters or recirculation loops close to fixtures, these systems shorten the distance hot water has to travel. Smart controls activate only when needed, and some systems even learn user patterns.

Water-saving angle:

• While much of the marketing focuses on energy savings, the water savings from reduced “warm-up waste” can be hundreds to thousands of gallons per household per year, depending on layout and behavior.

As an example of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design thinking, this is a good reminder: sometimes you’re not changing the fixture at all—you’re redesigning the infrastructure around it.

Leak-detection sensors and smart meters

It’s hard to talk about the best examples of water-efficient product design without mentioning smart leak detection. From under-sink sensors in homes to ultrasonic meters in city distribution networks, these products turn invisible losses into actionable data.

In homes, smart leak detectors shut off water automatically when they detect a burst pipe or continuous flow. In cities, advanced meters can pinpoint leaks in underground mains long before they become sinkholes or major outages.

Why this matters:

• The EPA notes that fixing easily corrected household leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills.³
• In municipal systems, non-revenue water (lost to leaks, theft, or metering errors) can exceed 20–30% in many regions; smart metering products are designed to attack that.

As an example of water-efficient product design, leak detection is less glamorous than, say, a sleek new faucet—but often far more impactful.

Waterless and ultra-low-water sanitation products

Urinals and toilets have seen some of the most aggressive innovation in water efficiency. Waterless urinals use specially designed traps and sealants to control odor without flushing. Ultra-low-water toilets use advanced bowl design, pressure assist, or vacuum technology to get the job done with minimal water.

Impact and adoption:

• Waterless urinals can save up to 40,000 gallons of water per unit per year in high-traffic facilities.
• Vacuum toilets, common on ships and aircraft, are moving into some high-performance buildings, using about 0.2–0.5 gallons per flush.

These are stark examples of how rethinking the physics of a familiar product can unlock very large water savings.

Design patterns behind the best examples of water-efficient products

Across all these cases—our core examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design and the additional real examples—certain design patterns keep showing up.

1. Measure first, then optimize

Smart irrigation controllers, leak detectors, and industrial cooling systems all start with measurement. You can’t design for water efficiency if you don’t know where water is going.

Successful products embed sensors and connectivity from day one, not as an afterthought. That data then drives features like adaptive scheduling, predictive maintenance, or automated shutoff.

2. Think systems, not single components

The greywater system is not just a tank. The efficient dishwasher is not just a spray arm. The best examples treat water as part of a larger system: fixtures, plumbing, controls, user behavior, and even policy.

Product teams that win in this space are the ones willing to collaborate with architects, utilities, and regulators, not just sell a box.

3. Design for user experience, not just efficiency ratings

Early low-flow products failed because they ignored the user experience. The 2024–2025 generation of water-efficient products—especially in the home—competes on comfort, aesthetics, and control.

High-efficiency showerheads now focus on spray feel. Smart irrigation apps focus on intuitive dashboards. Leak detectors focus on clear alerts, not cryptic codes. Water savings are built in, not bolted on.

4. Align water savings with business value

The most durable examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design all share a hard-nosed business logic:

• Lower operating costs (less water, less energy)
• Reduced risk (fewer leaks, less downtime)
• Compliance with tightening codes and standards
• Better ESG and sustainability metrics for investors

When product teams can quantify those benefits, adoption stops being a sustainability favor and becomes a straightforward business decision.

What these examples mean for sustainable product teams

If you’re building the next generation of sustainable products, these examples of 3 innovative examples of water-efficient product design offer a few practical lessons:

• Start with the biggest water loads in your product’s lifecycle—often not where you first expect.
• Look for opportunities to reuse or recirculate water before you chase exotic new technologies.
• Use sensors and data not just to monitor, but to automate better decisions.
• Never trade away user experience; design water efficiency so it feels invisible or even better than the status quo.

Water-efficient product design is no longer a niche category. It’s a design discipline that cuts across appliances, building systems, industrial equipment, and city infrastructure. The real examples above show that the technology is ready; the question now is whether more product teams will build water efficiency into their core value proposition instead of treating it as an afterthought.

FAQ: examples of water-efficient product design

Q1. What are some real examples of water-efficient product design in everyday homes?
Real examples include WaterSense-labeled toilets and showerheads, smart irrigation controllers for yards, on-demand hot water recirculation pumps, and smart leak detectors that shut off water automatically. These products are designed to cut water use while keeping (or improving) comfort and convenience.

Q2. Can you give an example of water-efficient product design in industry?
A good example of water-efficient product design in industry is a closed-loop cooling system for data centers or manufacturing. These systems recirculate and treat water repeatedly instead of constantly drawing fresh water, reducing both water and energy use. High-efficiency commercial dishwashers and laundry systems are another strong case.

Q3. Are the best examples of water-efficient products always high-tech?
Not necessarily. Some of the best examples are relatively simple: drip irrigation lines instead of overhead sprinklers, aerators on faucets, or waterless urinals. Others, like smart meters or sensor-driven controllers, are more high-tech. The common thread is thoughtful design that reduces water use without sacrificing performance.

Q4. How do I evaluate whether a product is truly water-efficient?
Look for third-party labels and standards (such as EPA WaterSense in the U.S.), published performance data (gallons per flush, gallons per minute, or water per cycle), and field studies when available. For larger systems, ask vendors for case studies with measured water savings, not just marketing claims.

Q5. Where can I find more technical guidance on water-efficient design?
The U.S. EPA’s WaterSense program, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and organizations like the Alliance for Water Efficiency publish technical resources, case studies, and best practices for water-efficient technologies and products.⁶⁷⁸