Bidet shower

The shower is a source of water for people who prefer using water rather than other methods of cleansing after defecation or urination.[2] The shower is an alternative for the traditional sources of water for this action, such as the bidet, copper pot or bucket and mug, being more hygienic and compact. There is no contact between the spray of water and the used water drainage.

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  Typical faucet installation
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  Faucet close up
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  A Finnish model, manufactured by Oras
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  A bidet shower at the Waldorf Astoria New York
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  Setup with dedicated mixing faucet

The user typically grasps the faucet in the right hand and uses the thumb or forefinger (depending on the trigger location) to aim a spray of water at the anus or genitals to assist cleansing after using the toilet.

The bidet shower is common in all predominantly Islamic countries and in most parts of Asia where water is considered essential for anal cleansing. This includes India, Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Maldives, Bangladesh, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia. In those countries it is commonly installed in Western-style (sitting) toilet installations. In Thailand, it is common in both Western-style toilets and squat toilet installations. It is so ubiquitous that Thai parliamentarians were outraged on learning that the toilets in their new parliament building were not equipped with bidet showers.[3] The bidet shower is similar in intent, if not method of use, to the Japanese washlet-style toilet seats, or so-called "electronic bidets".

Bidet showers are used by Muslims in Muslim countries and all parts of the Arab world as well as in Asia in order to cleanse themselves with water after using the toilet.[4][5] Here, water is commonly used instead of, or together with, toilet paper for cleaning after defecation.

The use of water in many Christian countries is due in part to the biblical toilet etiquette which encourages washing after all instances of defecation.[6] The bidet is common in predominantly Catholic countries where water is considered essential for anal cleansing,[7][8] and in some traditionally Orthodox and Protestant countries such as Greece and Finland respectively, where bidet showers are common.[9] In Europe, the bidet shower is used for example in Finland and Estonia.[10] Bidets are more common bathroom fixtures in many southern European countries.

The average American uses 23 kg (50 lb) of toilet paper each year; every roll is estimated to require 140 L (37 US gal) of water to produce and an additional 6 L (1.6 US gal) each time it is used to flush the used leaves down the toilet (although the toilet will likely be flushed regardless of toilet paper usage).[2] Given the environmental impact of toilet paper and wet wipes, bidets are growing in popularity.