Trump shower base is dropped to increase water flow

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WASHINGTON (Associated Press) – So much for Donald Trump’s pursuit of “perfect” hair.

The administration of President Joe Biden is backing away from a Trump-era rule approved after the former president complained he wasn’t getting enough wet due to restrictions on the flow of water from shower heads.

Now, with a new chief in charge, the Department of Energy is back to the standard approved in 2013, saying it provides plenty of water for a good soak and thorough cleaning.

Changing the rule will have little practical effect, given that almost all commercially made shower heads comply with the 2013 rule – regardless of the ex-president’s ire.

The administration said the measure clarifies what is happening in the market. She added that it is not easy to find bathrooms that provide the extra water supply that Trump wants.

Since 1992, federal law has required new shower heads to pour no more than 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) of water per minute. Because newer shower fixtures have featured multiple nozzles, the Obama administration has defined shower head restrictions to apply to what is released in bulk. So if there are four nozzles, no more than 2.5 gallons should come out of the four.

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The Trump-era rule, completed in December, allows each nozzle to spray up to 2.5 gallons, not just the total shower head.

The proposed rule change, due to be published in the Federal Register next week, goes back to the Obama-era standard. The public will have 60 days to comment before a final rule is made.

The Energy Department said the change would ensure consumers continue to save money while using less water and paying lower energy bills. Officials estimated that the Obama-era law saved families about $38 annually, and the Department of Energy expects similar savings by returning to the 2013 standard.

“With many parts of America experiencing historical droughts, this logical proposition means consumers can purchase showerheads that conserve water and save them money on their utility bills,” Kelly Spex-Bachman, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Energy and Energy Efficiency renewable ministry, said Friday.

While publicly speaking about the need to keep his hair “perfect,” Trump has made increasing the flow of water and reverting to standards for preserving old appliances — including light bulbs, toilets and dishwashers — a personal matter.

“So the shower heads — you shower, and the water doesn’t come out. You want to wash your hands,” Trump said at the White House last year, the water doesn’t come out. “So what do you do? Do you stand there longer or shower longer? Because my hair – I don’t know about you, but it should be perfect. perfect.”

But consumer and conservation groups said the 2020 rule change was absurd, unnecessary and wasteful, especially as the West bakes through a massive two-decade-long historical wave.

With four, five, or more nozzles, “you can get 10, 15 gallons per minute out of a shower head, which can literally take you out of the shower,” said Andrew Delasky, executive director of the Energy Conservation Group, Hardware Standards Awareness Project. last year in opposition to Trump’s action.

DeLaski and officials at Consumer Reports said there was no public outcry or need for change. The Department of Energy’s database of 12,499 shower heads showed that 74% of them use 2 gallons (7.5 liters) or less of water per minute, which is 20% less than the federal standard.

A 2016 test of shower heads by Consumer Reports found that the best shower heads, including the $20 model, provide an enjoyable amount of water flow and meet federal standards.

The DOE also proposes removing the definition of “body spray” adopted in the final rule of 2020. The rule allows for “body sprays” to circumvent Congress’ intent to promote water conservation based on the direction of water flow — a side spray rather than an overhead spray.

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