California OKs Strict Water Standards for Showerheads

[mark handler]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/california-oks-strict-water-standards-showerheads-33042643

California OKs Strict Water Standards for Showerheads

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Aug 12, 2015

California officials launched two initiatives Wednesday to ***** residential water conservation: The nation's toughest water efficiency standards for showerheads and a $30 million rebate program to rip out grass lawns and replace old toilets.

The California Energy Commission voted to require showerheads sold at stores in the state to spray less water than current models following similar moves for toilets, faucets and urinals.

The initiatives came four months after Gov. Jerry Brown ordered sweeping water-saving measures in response to the state's four-year drought.

Showerheads sold at stores will be limited to spraying 1.8 gallons a minute — the nation's strictest limits — starting in July 2018.

It will be phased in with a 2 gallons a minute standard starting next July, as is already required for all new construction in the state. Retrofitting of existing building will not be required.

"These new high-efficiency models have the same feel as old-style showerheads, but without the water waste," Tracy Quinn, a Natural Resources Defense Council policy analyst, said in a news release.

In addition, the state Department of Water Resources is providing enough funding to offer 60,000 residents a $100 rebate to replace an outdated toilet and up to $2,000 to replace grass lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping.

Other standards approved by the energy commission earlier this year take effect in January. Urinals can't flush more than an eighth of a gallon, down from half a gallon.

All faucets were previously allowed to pour 2.2 gallons a minute: The updated standards lower that to 1.2 gallons for home bathrooms, 1.8 gallons for kitchens and a half-gallon for public bathrooms.

However, the energy commission voted Wednesday to push back water-efficiency standards it approved for residential faucets by six months after manufacturers complained it wasn't feasible.

Together, the tougher appliance standards are expected to eventually save 138 billion gallons of water a year, according to energy commission estimates.

———

 

[mark handler]

For Immediate Release

August 12, 2015

Energy Commission Approves New Standards to Save 38 Billion Gallons of Water

Also approves energy efficiency and transportation loans

+SACRAMENTO - In response to the state's historic drought and to prepare for the next one, the California Energy Commission approved new standards for showerheads today. The standards are expected to save more than 2.4 billion gallons of water in the first year and 38 billion gallons after full stock turnover in 10 years. The commission also voted to change the start date for the recently adopted standard for lavatory faucets.

"Faucets and showers make up nearly 40 percent of residential indoor water use," said Commissioner Andrew McAllister, the Energy Commission's lead on energy efficiency. "We are hoping for the best, but planning for the worst in the face of the state's historic drought. It is clear that we need to push the envelope to save water and energy while also ensuring it makes sense for consumers and the marketplace."

+Details on the new standards:

- The current California showerhead standard is 2.5 gallons per minute. CalGreen code, the California plumbing code and the voluntary WaterSense specification are all 2.0 gallons per minute. Standards adopted today require that all showerheads not exceed 2.0 gallons per minute maximum flow rate. This applies to fixed and handheld showerheads as well as horizontal body sprayers manufactured on or after July 1, 2016. To increase water savings over time, the standard for showerheads will change to 1.8 gallons per minute maximum flow rate starting July 1, 2018 - making this the most stringent standard in the country.

- In April, the Energy Commission adopted a standard of 1.2 gallons per minute flow rate for residential lavatory faucets, among other water appliances, that would have taken effect Jan. 1, 2016. Commissioners voted to change the current standard of 2.2 gallons per minute flow rate to 1.5, effective September 1. The Energy Commission also voted to implement the 1.2 gallon per minute flow rate on July 1, 2016. The changes are in response to manufacturers who said they would not be able to supply retailers with enough 1.2 gallons per minute lavatory faucets on January 1, but have 1.5 gallons per minute models available today.

+Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued an executive order in April of this year, which ordered the California Energy Commission to establish standards that improve the efficiency of water appliances available for sale and installation in new and existing buildings. The executive order gave the commission emergency authority to adopt the standards today, rather than through a lengthier process. Nonetheless, there has been opportunity for public involvement at commission meetings, a workshop and through a public comment period in July.

+Other actions

The Energy Commission approved grants under its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program of $2.4 million to build and test seven- zero-emission, hybrid fuel-cell, freight-size trucks to transport cargo at the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports; $1.2 million to expand testing of the entire plug-in electric vehicle fleet at Los Angeles Air Force Base and upgrade software to determine if vehicle-to-grid technology can be applied to larger fleets and to vehicles at homes; and $500,000 for advanced vehicle technology apprenticeship training through California Community Colleges and the California Employment Development Department, with emphasis on veterans and disadvantaged residents.

The Energy Commission also approved loans for energy efficiency upgrades through the Energy Conservation Assistance Act, a zero or low interest loan program providing funds to public entities. The city of Santa Cruz received a $1.8 million one percent interest loan to install more efficient interior and exterior lights, as well as to make improvements to a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Montague Elementary School District received a zero percent interest loan for more than $400,000 to upgrade interior and exterior lighting, upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and to install an onsite 40 kilowatt photovoltaic system at the district's elementary school in Siskyou County.

# # #

California's response to the drought

To learn about all the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, visit the California Drought Page. Every Californian should take steps to conserve water. Find out how at SaveOurWater.com.

 

[mark handler]

Calif. Shower Rules Could Add Up to Lakes

By NICK CAHILL

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/13/calif-shower-rules-could-add-up-to-lakes.htm

SACRAMENTO (CN) - California on Wednesday announced the nation's strictest low-flow standards for residential showerheads, as wildfires burned throughout the drought-parched state.

The new standards could save enough water to serve 150,000 homes in the first year. The standards take effect July 2016. The California Energy Commission said the stringent water restrictions could save the state 38 billion gallons by 2026, when the showerheads are installed.

The standards limit flows in residential showerheads to 2 gallons per minute, for all showerheads sold in California after July 1, 2016.

Gov. Jerry Brown issued California's first mandatory water restrictions in April and asked the Energy Commission to find ways to increase efficiency of household appliances. The current low-flow maximum for showerheads is 2.5 gallons per minute. By 2018 the limit will be 1.8 gallons per minute.

Showers and faucets account for nearly 40 percent of indoor water use. Forcing new showerheads to be more efficient could save the state 2.4 billion gallons of water in the first year, the Energy Commission estimates. That comes to 76,620 acre-feet: enough to serve the needs of about 150,000 households per year.

An acre-foot of water will cover an acre 1 foot deep. The estimated savings, then, could fill a 7,600-acre lake 10 feet deep, or ten 760-acre lakes. An acre is about as big as a football field.

"We are hoping for the best, but planning for the worst in the face of the state's historic drought. It is clear that we need to push the envelope to save water and energy while also ensuring it makes sense for consumers and the marketplace," said Andrew McAllister, the Energy Commission's lead on energy efficiency.

The standards apply to fixed and handheld showerheads as well as horizontal sprayers.

The Energy Commission also approved tougher limits on residential faucets. By next July all faucets sold in California must have maximum flows of 1.2 gallons per minute.

Retailers and manufacturers have criticized the tougher faucet standards, which will replace the current limit of 2.2 gallons per minute.

After Brown's April water mandate, state regulators introduced several conservation programs for homeowners, including rebates for installing high-efficiency toilets and paying homeowners to replace their green lawns.

Californians have responded remarkably well to Brown's order, cutting water use in June by 27 percent compared with 2013.

July was the state's hottest on record. Water conservation numbers are expected to be released toward the end of August.

Hundreds of square miles of forests continue to burn Thursday, with several large fires in Northern California out of control.

 

[mark handler]

A guide to the drought’s new shower standards

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/20/california-drought-new-shower-rules/

How low-flow can we go? In California’s ongoing game of water-saving limbo, the bar just dropped another notch. But you won’t have to bend over backward to play along.

Last week, the California Energy Commission approved new standards for showerheads that would reduce the amount of water flowing out of your shower to 2.0 gallons per minute, with a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. That is down from the state’s previous requirements of 2.5 gallons per minute. The new standards apply to all fixed and handheld showerheads and horizontal body sprayers manufactured on or after July 1, 2016.

This means that if you want (or need) to replace your showerhead after that date, there will be nothing but approved showerheads available in stores. It does not mean that you have to do anything now, but Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister is betting you might want to.

“Showerheads are a double-whammy in terms of positive impact,” McAllister said. “Not only are you saving water, which is a precious resource, you are also saving the energy used to heat the water. Most of us like a hot shower, so this is a double impact in terms of your water bill and your energy bill.”

The showerhead standards will change again on July 1, 2018, when they will drop to a maximum flow rate of 1.8 gallons per minute, which will be the strictest standards in the country.

All of this whittling is in response to the California drought, which is now in its fourth crackling year. Showers and faucets are responsible for nearly 40 percent of indoor water use, and the Energy Commission expects that the new standards could save more than 2.4 billion gallons in the first year.

The showerhead changes are part of the state’s recent surge in water-saving measures. In April, the Energy Commission approved new standards for toilets, urinals and kitchen faucets. And beginning next month, the required flow rate for bathroom faucets will go from 2.2 gallons per minute to 1.5. That will drop to 1.2 gallons per minute on July 1, 2016.

Once consumers’ heads stop spinning and the regulatory dust clears, the commission estimates these new standards could end up saving 38 billion gallons of water in 10 years.

“We are in a new normal in terms of water availability in the state,” McAllister said. “Even if there is a mega El Niño this year, in the long-term, we will be a drier California. We need to be prepared for that.”

When it comes to bathroom fixtures, the state is already more prepared than worried consumers might realize. Like the new toilet standards announced this year, the new showerhead and bathroom faucet requirements are part of the CalGreen energy-saving building code and the California plumbing code.

“I think almost everything I have on the floor meets the guidelines,” said Eric Leaman, plumbing department manager for the Lowe’s home-improvement store in Poway. “Every single faucet I checked was at 1.5 gallons, and that’s good for this year. And most of the shower heads are at 2.0. I don’t think anyone will have any trouble finding what they’re looking for.”

So we know the compliant fixtures are out there, but how do they work once you get them home?

After my recent free residential water survey through the city of San Diego, the irrigation specialist who checked my house for leaks and inefficient appliances (I’m getting a new washer soon, I swear!) left me with a goody bag that included two low-flow showerheads. We installed one of them last week, and I am happy to report that doing my civic water duty did not leave me hygienically compromised.

The Niagara Dual-Max showerhead can be adjusted to flow at 1.5 gallons per minute or a miserly 1.0. The lower setting felt extremely wimpy, and I dearly hope the drought ends before I am forced to use it. But the 1.5 flow seemed perfectly generous and not that different from the 2.5 showerhead in our second bathroom.

In the end, I felt the way all Californians should feel after a state-approved shower: Clean, virtuous and a little more prepared for the next wave of drought demands.

“I don’t think people can tell the difference with the 2.0 shower. People will say they can, but I don’t think you can tell,” Leaman said. “But I also think residents here are probably much more tuned-in to saving water, and this is one of those trade-offs. You can’t rely on El Niño to end the drought in one year.”