U.S. DOE Eases Efficiency Restrictions of Showerhead Standards

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last month finalized a rule rolling back efficiency standards for showerheads. The previous rule established in 1992 restricted showerhead flow to a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute. A 2013 Obama-era ruling had upheld that definition, no matter the number of water outlets in a showerhead design. However, the new Trump administration regulation update allows each water outlet in a multi-outlet showerhead to flow at a maximum of 2.5 gallons of water, drastically loosening federal conservation rules.
At least 40 U.S States face water crisis, according to a 2014 Government Accountability Office report, which noted that water shortages are expected to continue into the future. IAPMO, along with many industry partners, issued comments opposing the DOE’s proposal to relax the standards, citing water shortages and possible negative impacts to plumbing system performance.
“We were very disappointed with the DOE’s actions to relax the efficiency standards for showerheads,” says Pete DeMarco, executive vice president of advocacy and research. “It’s beyond puzzling that the Department would take such draconian actions when there was no public call to do so.” |