Guests try the “air hand-washing device”. [Photo/ifeng.com]

Zheng Xiaotong’s “air hand-washing faucet” with outstanding water-saving performance recently made an eye-catching debut on a Beijing Television (BTV) show. 

The China Pharmaceutical University graduate said his faucet, compared to ordinary ones, can reduce water consumption by at least 90 percent. 

The device utilizes an infrared ray induction system, detects the presence of hands, and then sprays a light water mist along with a strong gust of air. 

In this way, people can get their hands cleaned as effectively as the regular way, while using only about 10 percent of the water. 

The figure was once again proved at the show, as Qin Jun, a guest and experienced investor, tried the regular and novel hand-washing ways and used 2,500 and 220 milliliters of water respectively. 

Zheng said he was inspired by his friend Chen Puyang, who first came up with the idea while washing his hands at a school canteen. 

“It takes a lot of water to wash hands; would it be possible to replace water with air,” Chen asked. 

Others may not have given the question a second thought, but Zheng and his friends decided to check it out. 

They put different kinds of dirt on their hands and washed with water. It turned out that 95 percent of the water is used to flush away dirt while only five percent is used for dissolving.