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October 2012
and temperature and can reduce risks of thermal shock and scalding. A plumber
can check the compatibility of the showerhead and shower valve and, if neces-
sary, install a valve that meets the recommended standards for the flow rate of
the showerhead.
••
Periodically inspect showerheads for scale buildup to ensure flow is not being
restricted. Certain cleaning products are designed to dissolve scale from shower-
heads with buildup. Do not attempt to bore holes in the showerhead or manually
remove scale buildup, as this can lead to increased water use or cause perfor-
mance problems.
••
Provide a way for users to track showering time and encourage users to take
shorter showers by placing clocks or timers in or near the showers.
••
Train users to report leaking or malfunctioning showerheads to the appropriate
personnel.
Retrofit Options
Because showerheads are relatively inexpensive, replacement is often more eco-
nomical and practical than a retrofit. In general, avoid retrofitting existing inefficient
showerheads with flow control inserts (which restrict water flow) or flow control
valves (which can be activated to temporarily shut off water flow) to reduce the flow
rate and save water. These devices may not provide adequate performance in some
facilities and can lead to user dissatisfaction.
In certain circumstances, single shower stalls may be outfitted with multiple show-
erheads that can be activated simultaneously or individually by the user. In some
cases, when these showerheads are turned on simultaneously, they use more water
than the federal maximum flow rate of 2.5 gpm for an individual showerhead (e.g.,
two 2.5 gpm showerheads can use 5.0 gpm). In these instances, stalls can be retrofit-
ted so that the showerheads can only be operated individually rather than all at the
same time, or so the total volume of water flowing from all showerheads is equal to
or less than 2.0 gpm. The latter may require replacing the existing showerheads with
more efficient ones. The retrofit suggestions for single shower
stalls provided here do not apply to communal showers used
in prisons, locker rooms, and barracks. Communal showers
might have multiple showerheads that each flow at equal to or
less than 2.0 gpm, since the showerheads are designed to be
used by different users at once, as opposed to multiple show-
erheads being used by one user, as described above.
Replacement Options
When installing new showerheads or replacing older, ineffi-
cient showerheads, choose WaterSense labeled models. Water-
Sense labeled showerheads
25
are designed to use 2.0 gpm or
3.5
Showerheads
25
Ibid
.
WaterSense labeled showerhead
