WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump has signed an executive order eliminating federal regulations on water pressure standards for household fixtures, including showerheads, but the move will probably not affect residents of New Jersey, where strict water flow rules remain firmly in place under state law.
Key Points
- President Trump repealed a 13,000-word federal regulation on showerhead definitions and water pressure standards.
- The repeal does not impact New Jersey, where separate, stricter water usage rules remain in effect.
- New Jersey mandates maximum water flow rates for faucets, showerheads, urinals, and toilets under state environmental law.
Under Trump’s order, the U.S. Department of Energy must rescind the “Energy Conservation Program: Definition of Showerhead,” a federal rule established under the Obama and Biden administrations that limited showerhead water pressure.
Trump described the regulation as an example of government overreach, noting, “Overregulation chokes the American economy and stifles personal freedom.”
The executive action directs the Department of Energy to bypass the standard notice-and-comment rulemaking process and make the repeal effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
New Jersey keeps its own flow limits
Despite the rollback at the federal level, New Jersey’s rules on water flow remain in full force. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, backed by Governor Phil Murphy’s administration, enforces water consumption standards that override any federal relaxations.
According to NJ regulations, showerheads are capped at a maximum flow rate of 2.0 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per square inch, and lavatory faucets cannot exceed 1.5 gallons per minute at 60 psi. Kitchen faucets may briefly reach 2.2 gallons per minute, but must default back to 1.8 gallons per minute after each use.
Toilets and urinals also face restrictions
New Jersey’s limits extend beyond faucets and showers. Toilets and urinals are regulated under the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards, with urinals capped at 0.5 gallons per flush and toilets restricted to 1.28 gallons per flush.
These state-level restrictions apply to all non-specialized toilets and urinals, with exceptions only for facilities like prisons or mental health institutions. The rules mandate compliance with federal testing procedures outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations.
The federal repeal is effective nationwide except in states like New Jersey that have enacted their own independent conservation standards.