What is GPM?

Gallons Per Minute, or GPM. GPM, which is another name for "flow rate," is a measurement of how many gallons of water exit your shower head every minute.

The federal government has required a maximum flow rate of 2.5 GPM for new shower heads since 1992. The maximum amount of water that should flow out each minute is 2.5 gallons.

Over time, shower heads' GPM flow rates have declined. Your existing shower head may have a flow rate of 3.5 GPM or more if it was manufactured in the 1980s or 1990s!

Why is shower head GPM or flow rate important?

Governments at all levels limit shower head GPM flow rates since there is a lot of room for water and energy savings.

Showering accounts for around 17 percent of domestic indoor water usage, or roughly 40 gallons per day for the average family, according to the EPA, making it one of the most common household water uses. That's approximately 1.2 trillion gallons of water wasted in the US each year just for showering, or enough to meet New York and New Jersey's annual water requirements!

How are shower heads governed by municipal governments?

Some state and municipal governments require even lower GPM flow rates than the federal norm in order to save money and conserve resources.

Examples of federal, state, and local laws include:

  • A maximum of 2.0 GPM is needed in New York and Colorado.
  • Hawaii, California, and Washington can only use 1.8 GPM.
    In addition, many towns reward and reimburse residents who voluntarily install low-flow shower heads with incentives and rebates.

Most likely, you believe that a shower with a lower GPM will be less enjoyable. Good news! Shower head design can get around GPM flow rate restrictions.

The performance of shower heads is constantly improved by Waterpik® engineers. From the inside out, every component of the shower head has been designed to enhance water flow and force for a stronger spray.

The inexpensive performance and unique features of Waterpik® shower heads set them apart from competing brands.

January 02, 2023 — gettai