According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), showering represents nearly 17 percent of annual residential indoor water use in the United States. Thus, it’s no surprise environmental awareness trends are moving towards getting on board with low flow showerheads as a way to drastically reduce water usage.
Low flow shower heads are designed to reduce the amount of water and heating used while showering making your home more energy and water-efficient. Based on current U.S. regulations, the standard maximum flow rate for shower heads is 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at 80 psi. Comparatively, low flow shower heads use 2.0 gpm or less.
According to the EPA, if every household in the U.S. installed low flow shower heads, we could save more than 250 billion gallons of water annually, which could supply more than 2.5 million U.S. homes with water for a year. Additionally, households would reap a fab annual cost savings.
Now there are two basic types of low-flow showerheads, which include aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating showerheads mix air with water, forming a misty spray. Meanwhile, laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water and are best if you live in a humid climate. The reason being, a laminar-flow showerhead won’t create as much steam and moisture as an aerating one.
There is a wide range of low flow showerheads currently on the market and choosing may become a bit overwhelming. Hence, some useful things to consider when choosing a low flow showerhead are type (aerating or laminar), flow rate less than 2.5 gpm and whether it includes a flow restrictor.
Most high quality low-flow shower heads include a flow restrictor. Flow restrictors allow more or less water through the lines so that you can control the amount of flow you need based on your water pressure preference.
Some brands to consider include:
- High Sierra High-Efficiency Low Flow Shower Head
- Delta 75152 Single-Function Shower Head with H2Okinetic Technology
- Take A Shower LLC Original Fire Hydrant Spa Plaza Massager Shower Head
- American Standard Flowise 3 Function Water-Saving Showerhead
- Niagara Earth Massage Low Flow Showerhead
- KOHLER K-14519-CP Bancroft Showerhead
Ultimately, having a low flow showerhead can make all the difference. If you live in a drought-prone area, gallons saved can be a game changer. Moreover, cost savings is always a plus, which you will definitely realize with a low flow showerhead.
Not to mention how wonderful low flow showerheads are in the interest of water conservation. If everyone gets on board with low flow showerheads, this will protect valuable drinking water resources. Finally, another benefit of using low flow showerheads is that it reduces the strain that using excess water puts on septic and sewage systems.
Have you considered replacing your standard showerhead with a low flow showerhead to drastically reduce your household’s water usage? If so, which brand did you go with and how do you like it?
