ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 17, 2020
The Trump administration has relaxed a regulation restricting water flow from showerheads, a pet peeve of President Donald Trump, who complained that he wanted more water to make his hair “perfect.” Since 1992, federal law has dictated that showerheads shouldn’t spew more than 2.5 gallons of water a minute. As newer shower fixtures came out with multiple nozzles, the Obama administration updated the ruling, stating that 2.5 gallons was still the limit regardless of how many nozzles were running. The new ruling, issued Tuesday, now says each showerhead can emit 2.5 gallons a minute. Also this week, the Energy Department issued a ruling that sets no limits on energy or water use for new washers and dryers with short cycle times in their “normal” setting.