Final WaterSense Specification for Showerheads Released
By: CUWCC
2012-04-02 -
On March 4, WaterSense announced the final specification for showerheads. Manufacturers can now submit their showerheads for testing to earn the WaterSense label, and consumers will soon be able to renovate their bathrooms with the full suite of WaterSense labeled products.
If every household in the United States installed WaterSense labeled showerheads, it would save Americans more than $1.5 billion on their water bills, saving more than 250 billion gallons annually. This is enough water to supply more than 2.5 million U.S. homes with their water needs for a year. In addition, this simple change would also reduce the nation’s energy bills by $2.5 billion for heating water.
Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm), but showerheads that earn the WaterSense label must demonstrate that they use no more than 2.0 gpm. As with all WaterSense specifications, EPA included performance criteria to ensure a good shower experience. EPA worked with a variety of stakeholders—including consumers who tested various showerheads—to develop criteria for water coverage and spray intensity. Independent laboratories test showerheads for these attributes before certifying them to earn the WaterSense label.
Whether they are replacing an older, inefficient showerhead or simply looking for ways to reduce water use and utility bills in the home, consumers can look for the WaterSense label on showerheads—along with faucets, aerators, and toilets—to help identify models that save water and perform well. EPA encourages partners and interested stakeholders to help raise awareness about WaterSense labeled showerheads when they begin to hit the marketplace in April! For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
If you have questions about joining WaterSense or labeling your product, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or e-mail watersense@epa.gov.