President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at reversing federal regulations on water flow in showerheads.
The order, signed on April 9, directs the Department of Energy to rescind rules implemented during the Obama and Biden administrations that limited water flow to 2.5 gallons per minute across all nozzles on a showerhead.
Trump has made no secret of his disdain for low-flow showerheads, frequently citing his own frustrations with water pressure. He noted that he wanted to “take care of my beautiful hair.”
The executive order is part of a larger campaign by Trump to dismantle what he views as burdensome federal regulations. Similar actions have targeted appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and toilets. The administration argues that these rollbacks will empower consumers and stimulate economic growth by reducing compliance costs for manufacturers.
In 1992, under the George H.W. Bush administration, federal energy law capped water flow for showerheads at 2.5 gallons per minute. However, advancements in showerhead designs, such as multi-nozzle models, led to interpretations that allowed higher combined water flow rates. The Obama administration clarified the regulations in 2013 to ensure that even multi-nozzle showerheads adhered to the 2.5-gallon-per-minute limit, aiming to prevent excessive water usage.
The rationale behind these regulations was twofold: conserving water and reducing energy use associated with heating water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, showers account for about 20% of daily indoor water consumption in U.S. households. Efficient showerheads not only save water but also lower utility bills and reduce harmful carbon emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that replacing a single showerhead with a WaterSense-labeled model can save an average family 2,700 gallons of water annually, along with significant energy savings from reduced water heating. Nationally, widespread adoption of these standards could save over 260 billion gallons of water and $5.4 billion in water and energy costs annually.
