The war on water pressure has now ended

telcodad

Trump signs executive order on water pressure to ‘restore shower freedom’
White House says order will ‘make America’s showers great again’ and ‘end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure’
By Lois Beckett, The Guardian - April 9, 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/09/trump-water-pressure-executive-order

A global trade-war rollercoaster was not enough to distract Donald Trump from fulfilling one of his longtime priorities on Wednesday: changing the federal definition of “shower head”, a move the White House said would “end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure”.

Trump has complained for years about inadequate water pressure in American showers, sinks and toilets, and has blamed federal water-conservation standards for the problem.

“In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair,” Trump said as he signed the executive order, which the White House said would apply to multiple household appliances, including toilets and sinks. “I have to stand under the shower for 15 minutes until it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous.”

The White House said in a statement on the executive order: “By restoring shower freedom, President Trump is following through on his commitment to dismantle unnecessary regulations and put Americans first.” …

Somewhat-Reticent

One can maintain pressure by reducing the number of holes … or smaller holes.

px_eliezer_

It is a legitimate point, though.

Toilets too—how does it save water if multiple flushes are needed?

On a related note:

I once saw a video demonstration of toilet manufacturers doing flush tests with ping-pong balls.'

That’s NOT being realistic.

They also need to do toilet flush tests with the equivalent of big cucumbers and so forth.

(Being serious here).

I tried to discuss this with my wife but she found it totally gross. Probably women are less happy discussing poop questions compared to men….

telcodad

I have a Kohler 1.6 Gal / 6 Liter per flush toilet that I never have to flush more than once per use and has only clogged-up maybe twice in all the years we’ve had it. Don’t have a problem with our newer model faucets, either.

Only thing is that maybe I would like some more flow-rate from our Grohe shower head (2.5 gpm?).

However, I understand the need to conserve our fresh-water resources, as well as reducing my water bill.

HardlyWorthit

I call BS.
My experience is that properly designed and engineered plumbing can work well and save water.
I recall all the doomsday projections in the ’70’s that internal combustion engines with smog and mpg controls would kill the automobile as we knew it. The engineers got that right too.

GrumpyCanadian

px_eliezer_ They also need to do toilet flush tests with the equivalent of big cucumbers and so forth.

One of the conservation organisations already did much better than that: they used soy-based meatless sausages to represent the usual solids that one tends to flush.

Rook

…restoring shower freedom…

…is the dumbest thing I’ve read this week.

JanJ

telcodad

I have reduced flow items, with no issues on any of them, toilets or showers, compared to what pres reported.
Maybe he installed them wrong?

RayGeode

And this was to be my day off of social media ……. 🤦‍♂️

vaxvms

Silly question…. Why hasn’t he hired a plumber to help him keep his beautiful hair beautiful?

urbanriot

telcodad

Trump signs executive order on water pressure to ‘restore shower freedom’

Great! People should have the option to install their own restricting devices if they want to save the water for some reason. Removing the water flow restrictors is a pain in the ass and you risk damaging the shower head in some units.

A few years ago we replaced an older shower head we had in our main bathroom and the water flow was abysmal. After doing some research and following a few tutorials online, I found that the shower head had two water flow restrictors inside, one metal and the other plastic. After removing both it was a night and day difference, the water flow is marvelous now.

John_deSouza

urbanriot

On many shower heads you can easily remove the flow restrictor and go from 2.5 to 5.0 GPM. We did it and tested it before and after with a 5 gallon bucket. Guides online to do this. Works with Waterpik brand. Makes a big difference taking a shower.

There are also retrofits online for converting toilets to higher gallons per flush. Ours are now 3 gallons+ per flush.

telcodad

John_deSouza On many shower heads you can easily remove the flow restrictor and go from 2.5 to 5.0 GPM. We did it and tested it before and after with a 5 gallon bucket. Guides online to do this. Works with Waterpik brand. Makes a big difference taking a shower.

Yes, I’ve removed the flow restrictors from shower heads before. I’ll have to see if there’s a YouTube video on doing that to my Grohe shower head.

egeezer

telcodad
Said by critic:
“I have to stand under the shower for 15 minutes until it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous.”

A fix for that is to remove the shower head, soak it in white vinegar or Lime-away. That’s what I did, and my shower head works fine.

The “war on water pressure” is being replaced with a war on water conservation.

egeezer

px_eliezer_ I once saw a video demonstration of toilet manufacturers doing flush tests with ping-pong balls.'

That’s NOT being realistic.

They also need to do toilet flush tests with the equivalent of big cucumbers and so forth.

I understand classified documents can clog low flow toilets.

CrashMan

egeezer The “war on water pressure” is being replaced with a war on water conservation.

Water is quite plentiful for a shower. Watering grass is another matter. We have mixed-up priorities.

Somewhat-Reticent

px_eliezer_ need to do toilet flush tests with … big

greasy gobs of gook?

px_eliezer_

Somewhat-Reticent greasy gobs of gook?

In my opinion (seriously) things that lubricate the poop in the toilet may reduce clogs.

I guess it depends on the interplay between physiology, plumbing, and physical chemistry.

(I’m serious).

If I dump a big load, I’ve found that adding a little liquid soap (or Dawn liquid) to the toilet helps prevent clogs.

Many people online advocate using some Dawn to help unclog a toilet.
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-unclog-a-toilet-with-dish-soap-7487697

Guy54435

px_eliezer_ Maybe add the soap before the dump, That way it gets agitated, And if it happens to splash its okay, you have clean soapy water.

ugly95

px_eliezer_ I once saw a video demonstration of toilet manufacturers doing flush tests with ping-pong balls.'

That’s NOT being realistic.

They also need to do toilet flush tests with the equivalent of big cucumbers and so forth.

That reminds me of that old ‘poop knife’ story that was floating around the internet a few years ago.