Department of Energy Officially Reverses Weakened Showerhead Standards
On December 16th the Department of Energy (DOE) officially reversed weakened showerhead standards adopted under the Trump Administration. Since 1994, showerheads have been limited to a 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) standard, and in 2013 this requirement was amended to ensure the 2.5 gpm standard applies to fixtures with more than one showerhead. The Trump-era rules allowed each individual showerhead to meet the 2.5 gpm standard (for example, a fixture with three showerheads could use 7.5 gpm), while also exempting body sprays from the standard. AWE rallied our network to oppose the weakened standards and filed a lawsuit when the rules were adopted over our objections. AWE praises the DOE decision.
“This announcement restores the successful showerhead standards that had been in place since 1994,” AWE President and CEO Ron Burke said. The weakened rules could have led to billions of gallons of additional water consumption, an increase in energy use and power plant emissions, and increased consumer water bills. With much of the country struggling with drought, the 2020 changes could have further compromised water supply availability for many water utilities.”