BMP #7 - Faucets and Showerheads
Background
Tremendous amounts of water and energy are wasted using inefficient faucets and showerheads. Federal guidelines mandate that all lavatory and kitchen faucets and faucet aerators manufactured and sold in the U.S. after January 1, 1994, must use no more than 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm). In addition, metering faucets - those that, when activated, dispense water of a predetermined volume or for a predetermined period of time - must discharge no more than 0.25 gallons per cycle (gpc). Federal guidelines also mandate that all showerheads manufactured and sold in the U.S. after January 1, 1994 must use no more than 2.5 gpm.
Advances in technology and differentiation between faucets intended for public verses private use provide even more water and energy savings potential. In 2007, EPA's WaterSense Program released a specification for residential bathroom lavatory faucets and faucet accessories (e.g., aerators or laminar devices) requiring a maximum flow rate of 1.5 gpm or less, a 32 percent decrease in flow rate over Federal guidelines. Only lavatory faucets intended for "private" use (i.e., residential housing, barracks, and other dwelling units, including hotel guest rooms and hospital rooms) are eligible for the WaterSense label. To address lavatory faucets intended for public use, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A112.18.1/ Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings specifies that "public" lavatory faucets (all faucets other than those defined as "private" above), other than metering, must have a maximum flow rate of 0.5 gpm.
To address efficiency and advances in showerhead technology, in 2006 the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) released a purchasing specification for showerheads. The specification calls for Federal Agencies to purchase showerheads with flow rates of 2.2 gpm or less. For more information on the FEMP purchasing specification for showerheads, view the following document (PDF 192 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
If your facility still uses older faucets and showerheads, or uses faucets with flow rates greater than 0.5 gpm in public restrooms, there is a significant opportunity to save both water and energy costs. For more information on this and other FEMP Water Efficiency Best Management Practices, please see the resources section.
Operation and Maintenance Options
- Establish a user-friendly method to report leaks and fix them immediately. Encourage cleaning or custodial crews to report problems.
- Test your system pressure to make sure it is between 20 and 80 psi. If the pressure is too low, then high-efficiency devices won't work properly, if it is too high they will consume more than their rated amount of water.
- Install expansion tanks, pressure reducing valves, and reduce water heater settings, where appropriate, to prevent temperature and pressure relief valves from discharging water.
- Correctly adjust and maintain automatic sensors to ensure proper operation.
- Encourage users to take shorter showers; placing clocks or timers in or near showers enables users to track their timing better.
- Post energy/water awareness information to encourage efficiency from users.
Retrofit/Replacement Options
- Avoid retrofitting existing inefficient showerheads with flow control inserts or flow control valves (designed to restrict flow or temporarily shut off flow of water, respectively) to reduce the flow rate. Flow control inserts and flow control valves may increase the risks of thermal shock and scalding and may not provide adequate flow in some Federal facilities, particularly those with low water pressure.
- When installing new showerheads, to maximize water and energy savings, choose models with flow rates that are less than Federal guideline maximums. Specifically check for showerhead models that meet FEMP's Federal purchasing specification performance requirement of 2.2 gpm or less. When replacing a showerhead with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm, verify that the hot and cold water plumbing lines are routed through an auto-compensating mixing valve (either thermostatic or pressure balancing) designed for the flow rate of the showerhead. This valve will prevent against significant fluctuations in water pressure and temperature if designed for the flow rate of the showerhead and can reduce risks of thermal shock and scalding. Check with a local plumber, and if necessary, install an auto-compensating mixing valve designed for the flow rate of the showerhead you plan to install.
- For kitchen faucet retrofits, install aerators or laminar flow devices that achieve a flow rate of 2.5 gpm.
- For lavatory faucet retrofits in public restrooms, install faucets or faucet aerators or laminar flow devices that achieve the 0.5 gpm flow rate requirement. For lavatory faucet retrofits in private restrooms (residential housing, barracks, hotel guest rooms and hospital rooms), install WaterSense labeled high-efficiency lavatory faucets or faucet aerators or laminar flow devices. For more information on WaterSense labeled high-efficiency lavatory faucets, please visit the EPA web site.
- Install temporary shut-off or foot-operated valves with kitchen faucets. These valves cut off the water flow during intermittent activities like scrubbing or dishwashing. The water can be reactivated at the previous temperature without the need to remix the hot and cold water.
Faucets and Showerhead Resources
EPA's WaterSense Program.
U.S. Department of Energy. FEMP Purchasing Specification for Showerheads.
Vickers, Amy. Handbook of Water Use and Conservation. WaterPlow Press. Amherst. 2001.