Federal Showerhead Rules Get a Retrograde: 2020 Water Pressure Definition Locked In

This bill is purely administrative, but it has a real-world impact on something most of us use every single day: the showerhead. Essentially, it’s a policy rewind on water efficiency rules. The legislation cancels the definition of "showerhead" that the Department of Energy (DOE) put out in late 2021 and officially locks in the definition the DOE had established earlier in 2020. This means that for manufacturers and regulators, the standards for water flow rates are now being governed by that older, specific 2020 rule.

The Administrative Policy Rewind

Think of this as the government deciding which blueprint to use for setting water pressure standards. The bill explicitly repeals the definition found in the Federal Register (86 Fed. Reg. 71797) from December 2021. Then, it gives the full force of law to the definition the DOE published in December 2020 (85 Fed. Reg. 81341). This isn't about setting a new standard; it’s about making sure the 2020 standard—and not the 2021 one—is the official rulebook for energy conservation programs going forward (Sec. 1).

What This Means for Your Morning Routine

While this sounds like bureaucratic hairsplitting, it matters because these definitions determine how much water your showerhead is allowed to push out. The difference between the 2020 and 2021 definitions often centered on whether the total water flow limit applied to the fixture as a whole or to each individual nozzle or spray source within a multi-nozzle shower system. If you bought a showerhead during the brief period the 2021 rule was in effect, you might have noticed a difference in water pressure or flow compared to older models. By cementing the 2020 definition, the bill provides regulatory certainty for manufacturers, forcing them to adhere to that specific standard when designing new products. This means if the 2020 rule allows for less overall flow than the 2021 rule, consumers who preferred the higher pressure allowed under the 2021 definition might find future product options restricted.

Who Feels the Change?

The immediate impact is felt by manufacturers, who now have a clear, legally mandated definition to follow, potentially requiring them to revert design plans if they had started developing products based on the 2021 rule. For the average person, this legislation clarifies the ceiling on water flow rates for new showerheads sold in the U.S. If you’re renting or buying a home, the showerhead installed will be governed by this 2020 definition. While the change is low concern because it’s just swapping one existing rule for another, it shows how deeply policy can reach, determining the flow rate and pressure you get when you step under the water to start your day.