SHOWER Act
Key claim: The SHOWER Act (HR4593) provides statutory authority for DOE to adopt the ASME definition of showerhead for federal water-efficiency regulations, replacing the definition rescinded under Executive Order 14264.
Abstract
(HR4593 · 119th Congress) Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing Act or the SHOWER Act This bill provides statutory authority for a revised definition of showerhead for the purpose of federal water efficiency regulations. Specifically, the bill adopts the definition of showerhead established by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The bill also requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to revise existing regulations to reflect the new definition. Executive Order 14264 (titled Maintaining Acceptable Water Pressure in Showerheads and issued on April 9, 2025) directed DOE to rescind its regulatory definition of showerhead. This bill provides statutory authority for a new definition that replaces the rescinded regulations. Latest action (2026-01-15): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Why this matters
The SHOWER Act converts an executive-branch definition change into statute, meaning the ASME-based showerhead definition would persist across administrations without needing to survive future rulemakings or executive orders. Practically, this affects how DOE enforces the 2.5 gpm cap—whether multi-nozzle fixtures are treated as a single showerhead (stricter) or as separate showerheads (more permissive)—with downstream effects on water and energy use, manufacturer compliance costs, and consumer choice.