Bedol Water Clock : Saving Time (and Water)

I don't take time very seriously; I don't wear a watch, I'm always late, and none of the timepieces in my house have the same time. Still, I take the planet's health seriously. That's why I wanted to check out Bedol's water-powered clock.

I'm all for off-grid living, so I'm always interested in products that reduce my footprint. I also like products that let me re-experience my science project days from childhood. Bedol's water clock is so simple: add water, set the time, forget about it. No batteries, no recharging, no electricity. It's magic. (It's actually science, but the important thing is that it works.)

I struggled a bit with the instructions, but that's mostly because I didn't fully unfold the page and missed the first set-up steps. Once I realized what I'd done it took only a few minutes to put the clock to work. It was a bit fussy at first, but after I refilled the water the clock has run just fine ever since.

My Bedol water clock as been sitting next to my couch for a few months now, and it's kept time very accurately as far as I can tell. I accidentally set it 30 minutes faster than the clock on my VCR (yes, I still have a VCR - part of my consume less plan) because I wasn't paying attention to the actual time when I set it up, so, oddly enough, I've been on time more often since I've been using this clock!

Since I wanted to test all the features, I initially set the clock to chime hourly. Then, it drove me crazy for a few months because I don't like hourly chimes and I'm also too lazy to do anything about them. I finally turned off that feature a couple of weeks ago. Still, it's good to know that the clock works as described.

The clock also has an alarm if I need to wake up from a nap or rewind my video tape or remind myself to get back to work after my lunch break.

It's funny--I didn't think I'd be relying on my Bedol water clock for time as much as just testing to see if it held the time. I thought I'd test it and then pass it on to a friend's kid as a novelty, but I've become attached to it. It works. The digital numbers are highly visible. The clock keeps time as well as my battery-operated and electronic gadgets and appliances. I like the water drop shape. I like having a see-through clock. I really like being able to recycle water (my radiator leaks, and until I can afford to fix it I've been using the water to water plants and run my clock!).

For those of you who prefer a more subtle design, Bedol makes water-powered clocks in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Bottom Line :  A fun, colorful off-grid product that's also an ideal gift for house warming parties!--E. D. (May '10)

BUY ONLINE : $16-29 (depending on clock style & features), click to shop.

Manufacturer's Site :  www.bedolwhatsnext.com

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