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The ILYA cyclical shower is a French closed-loop system that filters, disinfects and reheats its water and sends it back through the showerhead instead of down the drain. The published figure is five litres of water in cyclical mode, compared with about 60 litres for a conventional shower, according to Bpifrance. The inventors, Simon Buoro and Antoine Escande, were placed second and awarded a gold medal at Concours Lépine 2024. None of the available sources independently tests the five-litre figure, so it should be read as the manufacturer’s and the award’s description rather than a measured household result.
What the ILYA cyclical shower is
The headline calls the inventors “two engineers.” The official Concours Lépine 2024 palmarès names Buoro and Escande as the inventors of the “Douche cyclique Ilya” and lists it with a second prize and a gold medal. The product is made by the company ILYA, whose press-review page lists coverage running through 2026. That shows the company has kept publicising the shower; it does not show how the shower performs.
ILYA’s own retrospective says the 2024 edition included a working mock-up and demonstrations at the event. Those details come from the company, not from the competition organisers.
How the water loop works
Bpifrance describes the cyclical mode as a sequence of five steps. Each one matters for the water and energy picture, so it is worth reading them in order:
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- Pumping: used water is moved around a closed circuit rather than sent to the drain.
- Filtering: the water passes through a filter before it returns to the head.
- Disinfecting: the water is treated to reduce microbial load before reuse.
- Reheating: the water is brought back up to shower temperature.
- Returning: the treated, reheated water comes out of the showerhead again.
A closed loop reduces the water that leaves the bathroom, but it does not remove the pump’s electricity use or the energy needed for reheating. The available sources also do not say how much fresh water, if any, is added during a session, so the loop should not be described as using no water at all.
Two modes, two water paths
The Daily Galaxy article, dated 22 March 2025, describes a conventional mode that drains used water and says users can switch between the two. The table below sets out what each mode is reported to do and where the reported figures come from.
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| Feature | Conventional mode | Cyclical mode |
|---|---|---|
| Water path | Used water drains away (The Daily Galaxy, 22 March 2025) | Water is filtered, disinfected, reheated and recirculated through the head (Bpifrance; Concours Lépine 2024 palmarès) |
| Reported water use | Not stated for ILYA’s drain mode. Bpifrance’s comparison for a conventional shower is about 60 litres (undated page) | Five litres (Bpifrance, undated page); “nearly 70%” lower consumption (Concours Lépine 2024 palmarès) |
| Switching between modes | The Daily Galaxy says users can switch modes; the control method is not stated | Same as conventional mode; the control method is not stated |
What the water figures do and do not establish
The five-litre figure
Five litres is the amount Bpifrance reports for cyclical mode. The available sources do not give the shower duration, water temperature, flow rate, user behaviour or test method behind it. The headline phrasing, such as “a shower of one hour with only five litres of water,” is coverage wording rather than a stated test condition. Bpifrance’s description also draws in part on the company’s president, so it is not a fully independent account.
The “nearly 70%” claim
The Concours Lépine 2024 listing says the shower can reduce consumption by nearly 70%. The two headline numbers do not sit on the same baseline. Five litres against 60 litres is a reduction of about 92%, so “nearly 70%” must refer to a different comparison, duration or test condition. The available sources do not explain which one. Readers should treat the 70% figure as a claim from the award listing, not as a result that can be combined with the five-litre figure.
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Dated figures: price and production
The Daily Galaxy article reports a price of €3,000 and says ten units were being produced for an initial industrial preseries. Both details are as of March 2025. The current price, stock position and delivery status were not verified, so neither should be presented as current.
The headline quotation in context
The headline line, “We Can Stay Under Hot Water for an Hour If We Want To,” is the wording of The Daily Galaxy’s headline, attributed to the engineers. It is the article’s framing, not a verified recording or transcript. The same article gives a second remark: “It would be like peeing in your bath otherwise,” they note. The article does not say which founder made the comment, so credit it to the team as the article describes it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Buying and installation questions
- Do not compare it with an ordinary low-flow showerhead. A low-flow head only restricts the flow of water going down the drain. The closed loop adds pumping, filtration, disinfection and reheating.
- Confirm the current price and availability with ILYA directly. The sources reviewed do not establish that the shower is sold through Amazon or any other retailer.
- Ask about power, plumbing and space. The available sources do not state installation requirements, and they do not name an installer or confirm compatibility with existing bathroom plumbing.
- Ask about replacement parts before buying. No compatible replacement filter, maintenance consumable or accessory is named in the available sources.
A reasonable first step is to ask ILYA for its current specification sheet, including the test conditions behind the five-litre and 70% figures and the energy use of the pump and heater.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
