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Showerheads

Scope

Install WaterSense® labeled showerheads which can reduce water use in the shower by 20 percent.
Install WaterSense® labeled showerheads which can reduce water use in the shower by 20 percent.

Install WaterSense labeled showerheads which can reduce water use in the shower by 20%.

Showerheads – All showerheads shall be WaterSense labeled showerheads. This includes fixed showerheads that direct water onto a user (excluding body sprays) for bathing purposes and hand-held showers. The showerhead must have a flow rate that does not exceed 2.0 gallons per minute (gpm) (7.6 liters per minute [lpm]).

Verify with your chosen WaterSense Approved Certification Method whether there are additional requirements or parameters for the installation of showerheads as these may vary.

See the Compliance Tab for links to related codes and standards and voluntary federal energy-efficiency program requirements.

Description

Showering is one of the leading uses of water inside the home, representing approximately 17% of annual residential indoor water use in the United States. Assuming there are 300 million people in the United States using 11.6 gallons of water per shower, about 1.2 trillion gallons of water are consumed for showering each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program released its final specification for showerheads on March 4, 2010, to further improve the nation’s water and energy efficiency by raising consumer awareness and promoting the use of more efficient showerheads.

Showering accounts for 1.2 trillion gallons of water per year in the United States.
Figure 1. Showering accounts for 1.2 trillion gallons of water per year in the United States. (Source: PNNL.)

 

Residential Water Use.
Figure 2. Residential Water Use in the United States (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense.)

 

Install WaterSense® labeled showerheads that can reduce water use in the shower by 20%.

Switch to WaterSense labeled faucets and fixtures.
Figure 3. Efficient showerheads can save 2,900 gallons of water per year per showerhead. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense.)

 

WaterSense faucets can save 700 gallons per year.
Figure 4. WaterSense faucets can save 700 gallons per year per faucet. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense.)

 

WaterSense collaborated with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers/Canadian Standards Association Joint Harmonization Task Force to develop the specification criteria for high-efficiency showerheads. This task force is open to the public and comprises a wide variety of stakeholders, including showerhead manufacturers, water and energy utilities, testing laboratories, consultants, and other water efficiency and conservation specialists. Their participation, resources, and expertise enabled WaterSense to evaluate showerhead efficiency and performance and develop meaningful testing protocols that can effectively differentiate showerhead performance.

Prior to the task force’s work, there were no universally accepted criteria for measuring showerhead performance. Federal water efficiency legislation and national performance standards only establish product flow rates that dictate water consumption—they do not address what makes a satisfactory, or unsatisfactory, shower. With the showerhead specification, WaterSense and the task force have bridged this consumer information gap by incorporating performance requirements for products seeking to earn the WaterSense label. The requirements address flow rates across a range of pressures, spray force, and spray coverage, three key attributes of showerhead performance, according to consumer testing. These new requirements are designed to ensure a high level of performance and user satisfaction with high-efficiency showerheads.

Manufacturers are required by law to mark showerheads with the maximum flow rate. The showerhead marking will indicate if a showerhead meets the WaterSense maximum flow rate. To determine if the product meets all aspects of the WaterSense specification, look for the WaterSense label on the product packaging and documentation (the specification requires these materials to bear the WaterSense label). 

The specification sets the maximum acceptable flow rate per shower compartment at 2.0 gallons per minute (gpm) of water.

The WaterSense website also provides a list of labeled showerheads in the Directory of WaterSense Labeled Products. 

Ensuring Success

Showerheads – The verifier will obtain a list of the make and model numbers for all showerheads installed in the home and verify that they have earned the WaterSense® label. The verifier will also check the maximum flow rate from the showerheads, similar to the test performed on kitchen sink and bathroom sink faucets. For showers, no more than 0.35 gallons of water should be collected by the verifier during the 10-second test.

Testing shower fixture for water efficiency.
Figure 1. WaterSense-labeled showerheads release ≤ 0.35 gallons of water in a 10-second flow test. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense).

 

Testing shower fixture for water efficiency.
Figure 2. A WaterSense-labeled showerhead is tested to ensure a flow of ≤ 0.35 gallons in a 10-second test. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense).

Region

 With drought affecting various regions of the United States, WaterSense continuously seeks opportunities to collaborate with various stakeholders such as local municipalities, jurisdictions, and water districts – many of which have the opportunity to become WaterSense Partners. By including requirements for WaterSense products and/or WaterSense Home certification in drought mitigation plans, building codes, or urban development plans, stakeholders have been able to reduce water use in their localities.

Training

Right and Wrong Images

Right - EPA WaterSense-certified showerheads help reduce hot water usage.
Right - EPA WaterSense-certified showerheads help reduce hot water usage.
Right - EPA WaterSense-certified showerheads help reduce hot water usage.
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Right – EPA WaterSense-rated low-flow showerheads reduce water and energy usage compared to standard showerheads.
Right – EPA WaterSense-rated low-flow showerheads reduce water and energy usage compared to standard showerheads.
Right – EPA WaterSense-rated low-flow showerheads reduce water and energy usage compared to standard showerheads.
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Replacing your old showerhead with a new low-flow showerhead can save hundreds of gallons of water each year.
Replacing your old showerhead with a new low-flow showerhead can save hundreds of gallons of water each year.
Replacing your old showerhead with a new low-flow showerhead can save hundreds of gallons of water each year.
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Videos

Compliance

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense® Home Specification

Retrofit

Guidance for the measures described in this guide is applicable to both new and existing homes.

DOE’s Standard Work Specifications describes practices to complete whole-house energy upgrades safely without injury or hazardous exposure in the section on Global Worker Safety. The Specifications also provide some specific guidance on showerheads and faucet aerators.

 

More Info

References and Resources

WaterSense Labeled Homes: Introductory Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Description
Brochure providing information for homeowners, builders, verifiers, and facilities including an overview of program criteria, the certification process, and EPA-approved home certification organizations for water-efficient homes under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense...

WaterSense Specification for Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Description
Webpage describing specification requirements including checklist that establishes the criteria for water-efficient homes under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense program.

WaterSense Labeled Homes: The Basics

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Description
Website providing a description of the WaterSense labeled homes program and a checklist of mandatory requirements for homes to be labeled under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense program, Version 2.0.

WaterSense Homes Certification

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Description
Webpage from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describing the EPA WaterSense program including the Mandatory Checklist for WaterSense Labeled Homes, information on how to get certified, and information on finding or becoming a WaterSense Home Certifying Organization.

WaterSense - Find a WaterSense Home Verifier

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Description
Resource that provides a directory of individuals that have successfully completed all requirements of at least one WaterSense Approved Certification Method (WACM) through a Home Certification Organization (HCO).

WaterSense's Directory of Certified Professionals

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
EPA
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Description
Resource that provides a directory of individuals that have sucessfully completed all requirements of at least one WaterSense labeled professional certification program.

Directory of WaterSense Labeled Products

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Website providing lists of WaterSense-qualified products for home plumbing and irrigation equipment that meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program.

*For non-dated media, such as websites, the date listed is the date accessed.

Contributors to this Guide

The following authors and organizations contributed to the content in this Guide.

PNNL

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Sales

Building Science-to-Sales Translator

Water Efficient Indoor

Image(s)

Technical Description

Water is an increasingly precious commodity. Choices in fixtures, appliances, and even design can help conserve this vital resource.

Alternate Terms

Water Saving Home Technology
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Disclaimer

This content is a work created with funding provided by the United States Department of Energy under Contract no DE-AC05-076RL01830 for the operation of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The information and guidance provided by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the content are intended solely for educational purposes only and do not constitute formal training or certification. It is provided with the explicit understanding that neither the United States Government nor the United States Department of Energy, nor the Contractor, nor any or their employees, nor any jurisdiction or organization that has cooperated in the development of these materials, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness or any information, apparatus, product, software, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Viewers assumes full responsibility for all actions that they may take from information provided in this content including ensuring the safety, code compliance, and proper functionality of any products they choose to install. Installation and use of such products should be performed in accordance with local regulations and manufacturer instructions.