President Trump signs order to make showers great again
President Donald Trump reversed a Biden-era rule that limited the amount of water that can flow through showerheads.
- President Trump reversed a Biden-era rule limiting showerhead water flow.
- The EPA states low-flow showerheads can save a family thousands of gallons of water and money annually.
- Water conservation is a key issue, especially in the West, where low-flow fixtures are encouraged.
President Donald Trump says it's time make America clean again, again.
Trump has made good on a longstanding gripe about water pressure and on April 9 ordered regulators to reverse a Biden-era rule that limited the amount of water that can flow out of modern showerheads, which the president called "weak and worthless." Trump made a similar move during his first presidency to target a similar Obama-era rule intended to conserve water.
Trump has often contended that low-flow showerheads, toilets and sinks use more water because he has to shower longer or flush more often. In a fact sheet distributed by the White House, Trump called low-flow fixtures "the left's war on water pressure," and said people should be able to use however much water they want if they're paying.
"In my case, I like to take a nice shower, take care of my beautiful hair," Trump said during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office. He said he has to stand under the showerhead for 15 minutes under the current regulations.
Water conservation is a particularly important issue in the arid West, and local and state governments frequently urge residents to consume less water by using low-flow showerheads and toilets, and limiting irrigation. Trump's order allows showers to put out 2.5 gallons a minute. The EPA's current voluntary WaterSense standard for showerheads is 2 gpm.
According to the EPA, showering represents 17% of all indoor water use annually. The EPA says single low-flow showerhead can save about 2,700 gallons of water and $75 annually for the average family.
Reuters contributed to this report.