The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released the draft of its
WaterSense specification for showerheads
(
http://epa.gov/watersense/pp/showerheads.htm).
The
WaterSense draft specification for showerheads sets the maximum flow rate at
2.0 gallons per minute (gpm) at a flowing pressure of 80 pounds per square inch
(psi). As with all WaterSense specifications, the draft showerhead
specification includes performance criteria to ensure that consumers will not
have to sacrifice water coverage or spray intensity in order to achieve water
savings. EPA worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop these criteria so
that showerheads can be independently tested and certified for both water
efficiency and performance.
Showering
accounts for approximately 17% of residential water use in the U.S. The average
household could save more than 2,300 gallons per year by installing high-efficiency
showerheads. Once this specification is finalized, consumers will be able to
renovate their bathrooms with a full suite of WaterSense labeled products
including toilets, faucets and showerheads.
