In the US and Britain, the slogan around colleges was "Save water. Shower with a friend." Now, Wuhan
University has come up with another system for the campus bathhouse. It charges students for the amount
of time in a shower. Before entering the bathhouse, students pay for the amount of time they want in the
shower with cash or their student ID card. The clock starts ticking the minute the tape is turned on. It pauses
when a button is pressed for soap. An integrated circuit (IC) card reader at each tap shows the time. No
money, no water. The benefits of the new system can be seen with the old system, which charged Yuan for
each person regardless of time in the shower. The university used about 320 tons of water daily under the old
system, but only 60 tons now.
Many students use the new system but opinions on it are divided. Some students say it is bad because
bathing had become a sort of race. Many people using it for the first time are not sure how long they need to
shower. Some might be embarrassed if their time is up and they"re still covered in soap. They have to ask the
bathhouse worker to help them buy extra time.
"It"s a flaw in the system that you can not buy extra time on the ID card," said Ren, a freshman in Wuhan
University. The university is also considering some students" suggestions that they be allowed to pay after
they"ve finished the shower. Not surprisingly, some are complaining about losing the hour shower. But many
students say the move helps them develop a water-saving sense.
Without the time limits, most students tended to shower for 30 to an hour in the bathhouse.
Some even used the hot water to wash their clothes."In my experience, 0-20 minutes is enough," said Dai
Zhihua, a third-year student who usually takes 8 minutes.
A similar system has been installed in other universities. Shanghai Normal University introduced it at its
Fengxiang Campus in September. The bathing fee there is 0.2 Yuan per minute. One male student responded
by setting a record with a two-minute shower.
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