THE PRODUCT:
A showerhead is a plumbing fixture that directs water onto a bather.
THE STANDARD:
The current national standards for showerheads took effect in 1994 and set a maximum flow rate of 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute). In December 2010, DOE officially waived federal preemption of the national showerhead standards. This waiver of federal preemption allows states to set standards provided they are more stringent than the national standard.
In 2014, Colorado adopted standards for showerheads that set a maximum flow rate of 2.0 gpm. In 2015, the California Energy Commission (CEC) established a two-tiered standard with the first tier setting a maximum flow rate of 2.0 gpm and the second tier strengthening the standard to 1.8 gpm. As of 2024, 14 states in total had adopted showerhead standards that are more stringent than the national standard.
KEY FACTS:
According to the EPA, showering accounts for about 17% of indoor residential water use. Showerheads that use no more than 2.0 gpm can earn the WaterSense label. WaterSense is an EPA partnership program (similar to ENERGY STAR) which identifies products that save water and energy, save money, and meet a minimum threshold of performance.
