Shower Heads for Water Conservation

Old School Low Flow

• Not too long ago, low-flow showerheads were a weak link in the suite of water-efficient bathroom fixtures because inadequate spray power and irritating spray patterns compromised the quality of the shower. People compensated by taking longer showers or even reverted to high-flow showerheads, with potential water savings lost. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program recognized the dilemma and set to work developing a specification for water-efficient showerheads that includes a performance standard for a satisfactory shower.

Meet the Numbers

• According to the EPA, about 30 gallons of water a day is used for showering, or nearly 1.2 trillion gallons of water annually. The average household can save more than 2,300 gallons of water a year by installing water-efficient showerheads. Since demand on water heaters is also reduced, an additional 300 kilowatts of energy a year can be saved with the showerhead, which translates into $36 to $50 a year savings, as of May 2011, depending on whether the heat is electric or natural gas.

Performance Matters

• Standard showerheads use from 4 to 5 gallons per minute. The WaterSense specification reduces this to 2 gallons per minute. WaterSense further establishes the necessary qualities for a satisfactory shower experience. These are pressure compensation, which is the ability to maintain flow at different water pressures; spray patterns, or how the showerhead distributes water; and spray intensity that's powerful enough to effectively rinse soap and shampoo lather. This performance criteria eliminates the unpopular spray patterns and weak shower sprays that consumers resist.

Making the Move

• All showerheads are subject to changes in temperature when the pressure changes in the supply line, such as the toilet flushing. Ensure all the showerheads are installed into properly designed plumbing systems with mixing valves that adjust incoming water pressure and outgoing water temperature. If your home was built before 1990 or has a two-handle bathtub faucet, ask for advice from a professional plumber. Check if your municipality offers rebates or incentives to retrofit your showerheads.