Showerheads

Showering is one of the leading ways we use water in the home, accounting for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use, or about 30 gallons per household per day. That's nearly 1.2 trillion gallons of water used in the United States annually just for showering, or enough to supply the water needs of New York and New Jersey for a year! By retrofitting your entire bathroom with WaterSense labeled fixtures, you can save even more.

A Shower of Savings

The average family could save 2,900 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. Since these water savings will reduce demands on water heaters, they will also save energy. In fact, a family could save more than 370 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power a house for 13 days. If every home in the United States installed WaterSense labeled showerheads, we could save more than $2.2 billion in water utility bills and more than 260 billion gallons of water annually. In addition, we could avoid about $2.6 billion in energy costs for heating water.

The WaterSense Label

All products bearing the WaterSense label must be third party certified to ensure they meet EPA water efficiency and performance criteria.

Did you know that standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm)? Showerheads that earn the WaterSense label must demonstrate that they use no more than 2.0 gpm. The WaterSense label also ensures that these products provide a satisfactory shower that is equal to or better than conventional showerheads on the market.

Performance Is Key

As with all WaterSense specifications, EPA included performance criteria to ensure that consumers will not have to sacrifice a good shower in order to achieve water savings. EPA worked with a variety of stakeholders—including consumers who tested various showerheads—to develop criteria for water coverage and spray intensity. Showerheads are independently certified to ensure they meet these attributes before they can earn the WaterSense label.

Look for the Label

Whether you are replacing an older, inefficient showerhead or simply looking for ways to reduce water use and utility bills in your home, look for the WaterSense label on showerheads along with faucets, faucet accessories, and toilets to help you identify models that save water and perform well.

For more information on how EPA worked with stakeholders to ensure satisfactory showerhead performance, please read A New Reason to Sing in the Shower (PDF) (3 pp, 280K, About PDF) in the February 2010 issue of the AWWA Journal. (Reprinted from Journal AWWA, Vol. 101, No. 2 February 2010, by permission). Copyright 2010, American Water Works Association. Permission to reproduce this document is granted for informational purposes only and does not represent or imply approval or endorsement by AWWA of any particular product or service.)

Technical Information

Are you a manufacturer or retailer or distributor interested in learning more about WaterSense labeled showerheads? Please visit the Showerheads Specification page for more information.