Use Less Water When You Shower (Because it’s the Law)

You know the routine. Every morning the majority of us wake up, stretch, get out of bed, grab whatever we consider “breakfast” to eat, and then… the almighty shower. After this warm, secluded sanctuary invigorates us, we step out, get dressed and rush off to work. Day in and day out, this is the routine for most Americans.

But, what if I told you that part of your morning routine is to be altered? What if I told you that part of this waking, cleansing, getting-ready-so-you-can-face-the-day ritual might be, in fact, illegal? Well that could be the case. Sorry, America.

Other than taking away your habitual cup of coffee, which enables you to stay awake on the irrefutably long drive to the office (no matter how long or short it really is), there is nothing you could change that would enrage most Americans more than limiting their showering abilities. What’s more enjoyable than being blasted with warm water in a completely isolated setting to prepare for the day ahead? For exactly this reason, companies like Watermark Designs, a manufacturer of high-powered, “luxury” showerheads, build showerheads that “will blast bathers with 8 gallons per minute through 55 jets” according to a Seattle Times article. “Nowadays, spa-style showers are the rage in upscale bathrooms,” the article continues. In our contemporary times, it seems that creating an in-home spa might be as integral to the American dream as the white picket fence. How many double-showerhead, body-jet-riddled water chambers have you seen or heard about with envy? Unfortunately, such appliances in our homes are putting out more water than is legally allowed. According to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), many of the luxurious and powerful showerheads are actually illegal, since various state and federal regulations only allow as much as 2.5 gallons of water used per minute.

Upscale bathrooms aren’t the only locations that might be overdue on their water consumption. Even those of us who aren’t blessed with manmade waterfalls in our homes are still reluctant to leave the blissful shower, where hot water and time seem endless, and our job and the day feel too near at hand. Even with a showerhead that allows the highest legal output of water, a 10-minute shower results in 25 gallons used. Not too shabby, since the same timeframe using the Watermark design results in 80 gallons down the drain. But, this only looks good when compared to the water-hogging, top-of-the-line products. A 10-minute shower tends to be the average length for most Americans according to Ezone @rticles, an online publication. This indicates that 25 gallons per shower should be the maximum water used every morning while adhering to standards and legal limits.

However, this might be easier said than done. A recent Wall Street Journal article tells us that even the greenest of environmentally conscious consumers is unwilling to compromise on their morning routine. They assert that, “of all the water wasters in the house, the shower is among the hardest to tame, because people go to extraordinary lengths to protect it.” New technologies are even being considered that mix air pressure with water output in order to make bathers feel the desired pressure of a high-powered shower while utilizing less water.

The morning is the hardest time for most people and the monotony of waking up and commuting to work is made bearable by the simple joys of caffeine and showers. So, if the benefit to the environment isn’t enough to shorten the showering process or convince you to buy a more efficient faucet, remember the energy savings that come along with such conservation. And, maybe have another cup of coffee.

For more information on water conservation, click here.