Head shower while running water

The Department of Energy has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a proposed rulemaking to change the definition of showerheads, as well as the test procedure for multi-nozzle features. Public comment on the proposed rule is allowed until Sept. 14.

In 1994, the DOE limited the flow rate in residential showerheads to 2.5 gallons per minute, both to conserve water and fuel for the water heater. Models with a WaterSense label have a flow rate of no more than 2.0 gpm. Of the 12,499 showerheads in DOE’s database, 74% use less than 2.0 gpm. In the new rules, fixtures with multiple nozzles would be able to spray up to 2.5 gpm per nozzle, rather than a sum of less than or equal to 2.5 gpm across all nozzles on the entire fixture.

These changes could result in increased water usage across the country, the NAHB says. Builders in regions such as the Southwest may already be experiencing restrictions because of water scarcity, and these proposed changes may negatively impact their ability to do business.

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