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We often talk about many more advanced technologies in the water conservation area but it is certainly worth repeating that there are some simple solutions that can also have a significant impact on how much water we use.   The low-flow showerhead is one of those technologies. 

Shower heads before 1992 used approximately 5gpm (19 L/m) or more.  In 1992 laws were passed (like the Federal Energy Policy Act in the US) which restricted all faucet fixtures manufactured in the US to a maximum flow rate at or below 2.5gpm at 80psi or 2.2gpm at 60psi.  So along came the low flow showerhead.  The maximum flow of a low-flow showerhead should be 2.5gpm (9.5L/m) and they have been around for almost 2 decades in N.A.  Surprisingly, however, there are still hundreds of thousands of homes that are still using the older water wasting showerheads. 

So How does a low-flow showerhead work?

With older showerheads the only way to effectively reduce your water consumption is to reduce water pressure and thus reduce the amount of water that flows though the showerhead.  But, by reducing the water pressure and reducing flow the effectiveness of the showerhead is also reduced as the water doesn’t hit you with the same force and if pressure is too low it “dribbles” from the showerhead.  I’m sure we’ve all experienced that at least once and it certainly doesn’t make for a quick or effective shower. 

There are basically 2 types of low-flow showerheads on the market today (with more ideas coming I’m sure), aerating and non-aerating.  The most popular of the two is the aerating showerhead which essentially restricts flow by forcing the water through very small apertures where air is mixed into the water stream.  This provides a more consistent pressure and even, full shower spray while using much less water than a traditional showerhead.  In fact they use less than half and even as little as 1/5th the water of older showerheads.  The second type of low-flow showerhead is a non-aerating head in which air is not mixed into the water stream.  A non-aerating low flow showerhead generally has a slightly warmer feel (as the air in an aerating head makes the water feel slightly cooler) and has a more pulsating type of feeling.

Many low-flow shower heads today also come with a shut-off valve which allows you to push a button or flip a mechanical switch which stops the flow of water.  This allows you to turn off water flow while you are soaping and only run the water while you actually need to get wet or rinse.

So what’s the big deal? 

Well, the big deal is saving water, a lot of it.  Imagine a shower head that uses between 5 and 7gpm (19-26L/m).  A 10 minute shower will use between 190 and 260L of water.  Wow!  Compare this to low flow showerheads that use between 1.5-2.5gpm (6-9.5L/m) and the same 10 minute shower would use only 60-95L.  So I think the water savings potential is pretty clear.  Imagine how many people live in your community and consider how much water would be saved if everyone used 50% less, or more, water per shower.

Save Money By Using Less Water

Let’s take a look at an example of how much a family of 4 could save where I live by switching showerheads.  In my region (Waterloo Region) I currently pay a little over $2 per cubic meter (1000L) of water; $2.12 to be exact for combined water and sewage.  If a family of 4 takes on average a 10 minute shower per person each day they would save 138,700L of water each year by using a low-flow shower head (assuming a 2.5gpm - 9.5L/m showerhead replacing a 5gpm or 19L/m showerhead).  This would translate into an annual savings of roughly $294.  That’s not a bad return on an investment that could cost as little as $10. 

If, at the same time, this family of 4 can reduce their average shower length to 7 minutes they could save an additional $88 a year.  Yep, a total of about $382 each year.  Now, who doesn’t want an extra $382 a year for making a pretty very small change that doesn’t really impact your daily life in any significant way?

Saving Water Saves Energy Too!

Saving water is very important but at the same time did you also think that as you save water during a shower you are also saving something else; Energy.  So, you save money because you use less water but by reducing the amount of hot water you use, you will also reduce the amount of fuel (electricity, oil, natural gas, propane etc.) that you need to heat that water.  You actually save money and reduce your impact on the environment and natural resources at the same time.

If you want to take it a step further, consider that to get the water to your home it needs to be pumped, right?  Water does not exist under pressure in its natural state.  This means that somewhere; at the bottom of your well, at the municipal facility etc. there is a pump that requires electricity to operate and deliver the water to your home.  The less water that you use the less water that needs to be treated, pumped and then treated again as wastewater.  It really saves in many areas when you think about the whole loop.