US President Donald Trump has recently signed an executive order aimed at revising regulations regarding water flow in bathroom showers. This move rescinds previous restrictions implemented during the terms of Democratic Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, which were originally designed to enhance efficiency and promote water conservation efforts.
The primary focus of the Trump administration’s new order is to enhance what the White House describes as “America’s showers.” According to official communications from the administration, the current definition of showerheads has been deemed inadequate, with Trump asserting that showers should not be “weak and worthless.” This sentiment was expressed alongside the President’s personal anecdote regarding his hair care routine, highlighting a preferred change in water pressure that would allow him to wash his hair more effectively.
The new directive mandates that Energy Secretary Chris Wright reevaluate the definitions surrounding showerheads to facilitate greater water flow. Specifically, Trump aims to revert to a 1992 federal law that established a standard allowing for 2.5 gallons (approximately 9.5 liters) of water to be dispensed per minute. The Obama administration had clarified this regulation in 2013, stipulating that regardless of the number of nozzles in a showerhead, the combined output should not exceed this limit. Trump’s executive order would, in effect, permit showerheads with multiple nozzles to each release up to 2.5 gallons per minute, potentially increasing total output significantly.
The White House’s fact sheet elaborated that previous regulations contributed to an overreaching “green agenda,” which they argue has negatively impacted the everyday lives of Americans by stifling personal choice and economic freedom. In signing the executive order, Trump emphasized his dissatisfaction with current shower performance, using personal examples to illustrate the perceived ineffectiveness of existing regulations.
It’s noteworthy that Trump previously relaxed these showerhead restrictions during his first term, allowing each nozzle to function independently at the maximum rate allowed under the federal law. This approach was reverted by the Biden administration in 2021, which reinstated the Obama-era regulations.
Experts have cautioned that loosening these restrictions could have wider implications for water conservation in the United States. The average family spends roughly ,000 annually on water expenses, and initiatives promoting energy-efficient appliances, such as WaterSense-labeled fixtures, could lead to significant savings. The US Environmental Protection Agency had estimated that households could save over 0 per year by utilizing more efficient plumbing fixtures.
As the discussion surrounding environmental regulations continues, this latest executive action underscores the ongoing tension between conservation efforts and calls for deregulation, as the country grapples with issues of climate change and resource management.
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