Do We Really Need More Water Pressure? Let’s Talk About Trump’s Showerhead Obsession
By Ashley Wisse, Director of Green Building Services
On April 9, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that essentially eliminates federal limits on water pressure and resulting flow rate for showerheads. This sounds like a small issue, right? But there's more going on here than just stronger and longer showers. First, let’s talk about why the water limits exist in the first place.
Back in 1992, the US government capped showerhead flow at 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). The goal was simple: save American citizens water, energy, and money. This strategy worked! In an average American home, showers account for nearly 17% of residential indoor water use.* Less water used = less energy used to heat it = lower utility bills. Today’s showerheads aren’t the same as they were in the '90s. Low-flow tech has come a long way and modern showerheads provide a solid, satisfying spray and save water. Most people don’t even notice a difference, and there are many options on the market that actually flow much lower than 2.5 gpm.
So, what’s the point? Sure, cutting red tape sounds great in theory. But not all regulations are bad. Some, like this one, are actually working and do not pose a strong public concern. Rolling back these water limits means higher water use, higher energy costs, and higher utility bills. We need to think long term. Strong showers might feel nice in the moment, but this is a significant step backward for the environment and an increase to your monthly utility bill. Sounds like a lose-lose situation from here.