The Department of Energy is moving to reverse a Trump-era rule that rolled back water efficiency standards for showerheads, according to an administration official that spoke to CNN.
The Trump-era rule rolled back federal standards adopted in 1994 that required showerheads to release no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute, according to the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
According to AP News, since 1992 federal law has dictated that new showerheads should not pour more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Since newer shower fixtures came out with multiple nozzles, the Obama administration defined the showerhead restrictions to apply to what comes out in total. The Trump rule adopted in December 2020 allowed each nozzle on a showerhead to meet that standard.
The Energy Department under former President Donald Trump moved to let each showerhead reach the 2.5-gallon-per-minute individually, reported CNN.
“As many parts of America experience historic droughts, this commonsense proposal means consumers can purchase showerheads that conserve water and save them money on their utility bills,″ said Kelly Speakes-Backman, acting assistant secretary for the department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in a statement, reported AP News.
According to CNN, the new proposal from President Joe Biden's administration would revert to the showerhead standards set by the Obama administration, which is set to be published in the Federal Register. The rule will undergo a 60-day public comment period as well.
In addition, The Energy Department is proposing to remove the definition of “body spray” adopted in the 2020 final rule in order to promote water conservation, reported.
