The new standards adopted by the California Energy Commission would slash water flows by 20 percent on showerheads manufactured after next July 1. Flows would decrease an additional 10 percent on showerheads made after July 2018.
Officials said the new standards are expected to save more than 2.4 billion gallons a year in the first year. Californians use an estimated 186 billion gallons a year showering.
The commission adopted new standards for faucets and toilets in April, shortly after Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order demanding efficiencies in water usage across the state, including lower-flow appliances and a broad 25 percent cut in urban water use.
