Showerheads that Save Water

Three billion gallons of water flow through showerheads every day in this country. Half of it is unnecessary.

Most showerheads use twice the water needed for a thorough, enjoyable shower. This drain on one of our most precious resources -- clean water -- exacts an unnecessary toll on both the environment and your pocketbook. To get clean water, we tap lakes, build dams and reservoirs and construct processing plants. By using more than we need, we overload sewer and septic systems and leach fields. Both the water itself and the energy needed to heat it cost you money.

What can you do? Think globally; act locally. Take this very easy step: Convert your showerheads to low-flow models. This takes a few minutes and costs only a few dollars. Every new showerhead should pay for itself the first year.

Types and Features

There are two main types of showerheads: the regular stationary type and hand-held models attached to a flexible hose. Most hand-held showerheads can be clipped onto a wall-mounted hanger, swivel or bar for hands-free showering. The flexible hose screws directly onto the shower arm, onto a diverter valve between a standard showerhead and the shower arm or onto a deck-mounted diverter valve on a bathtub.

Hand-held models are a little more versatile and save more water because they direct the flow to where you want it. They also offer a slight energy savings because the water travels a shorter distance between the showerhead and your body, cooling less in the air -- this means you can adjust the temperature slightly lower.

The cost of a particular showerhead has little to do with how well it delivers a satisfying shower. It's more a gauge of features and the construction materials and finish. One of the main features of showerheads is the ability to adjust spray settings -- narrow to wide, spray only, pulse and so forth. This is handy if different family members like different types of spray. The easiest types to use are those that have an adjustment ring or lever on the outside of the head -- so you don't have to reach into the center of the water stream to adjust them.

One other handy, water-saving feature is a shutoff at the head. This cuts water to a trickle while you soap-up or wash pets or kids.

There are two other devices that aren't really showerheads but help save water in the shower: flow-control inserts (basically a washer with a small hole to reduce water flow) and control valves that reduce flow and provide on-off control above the head. These fit between the shower pipe (arm) and showerhead.

What is Low Flow?

Showerheads are measured by flow -- the number of gallons they deliver per minute (gpm). Flow is affected by water pressure, measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The greater the pressure pushing water through pipes and showerheads, the greater the volume of water forced out.

Water pressure on the high side -- 80 psi, for example -- will push a greater amount of water through a showerhead than low water pressure, say 20 psi. This same principle is in effect when you don't turn on the water full blast. Water pressure varies from community to community and even from house to house.

A few years ago, showerheads delivered about 5 to 8 gallons per minute (gpm) at 80 psi. The current standard for low-flow heads is 2.5 gpm at 80 psi.

It's easy to judge your present showerhead's flow rate. Just hold a gallon container under the head and clock the time it takes to fill it. If it fills up in fifteen seconds, the flow rate is about 4 gpm. If it's full in ten seconds, the flow rate is closer to 6 gpm. With a low-flow head, it should take 24 seconds or more.

A quality showerhead will feel good at both high and low water pressures. Some have flow restrictors that can be reversed or removed to allow more water through on low-pressure lines, allowing you to achieve the right amount<

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