President Donald Trump has long complained about ecological laws restricting water flow in showerheads, which he says makes it difficult for him to wash his "beautiful hair."
During his first term, Trump ordered an easing of restrictions on showerheads, an action former President Joe Biden later reversed. Now, Trump is set to allow water flow once again. A presidential order signed on Wednesday calls for the immediate end of water conservation standards limiting the number of gallons per minute flowing through showerheads and other appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and toilets.
"I like to shower properly, to take care of my beautiful hair," Trump said on Wednesday while signing an executive order at the White House. "I have to stand in the shower for 15 minutes until my hair gets wet. The water comes out drop by drop by drop. It's ridiculous."
"What happens is that you end up washing your hands for five times longer, so it's the same amount of water," he added. "And we're going to open this up so people can live."
The order directs Energy Secretary Chris Wright to immediately cancel what Trump called an "overly complicated federal law" that redefined the word 'showerhead' under the last two Democratic presidents. Both Biden and former President Barack Obama imposed restrictions on water flow from showerheads and other appliances. The standards were designed to make dishwashers, showerheads, refrigerators, washing machines, and toilets use less energy and water.
But the regulations "turned a basic household item into a bureaucratic nightmare," according to a White House fact sheet. "Showerheads will no longer be weak and worthless." The Appliance Standards Awareness Project, which promotes energy efficiency, said that Biden-era standards lower electricity bills and protect the environment. Showers account for about 20% of the average American family's daily indoor water consumption, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Water-efficient showerheads also save energy since water heating represents about one-fifth of the average home's energy consumption.
