Rules eased for Donald Trump’s pet peeve

The Trump administration has relaxed a regulation restricting water flow from showerheads, a pet peeve of Donald Trump, who complained four months ago he wanted more water to make his hair “perfect”.

Since 1992, US law has dictated showerheads shouldn’t spew more than 9.5 litres of water a minute.

As newer shower fixtures came out with multiple nozzles, the Obama administration updated the ruling, stating that 9.5 litres was still the limit regardless of how many nozzles were running.

The new ruling, issued on Tuesday, now says each showerhead can emit 9.5 litres a minute.

“So showerheads - you take a shower, the water doesn’t come out,” Trump said in August.

My hair - I don’t know about you, but it has to be perfect. Perfect

“You want to wash your hands? The water doesn’t come out. So what do you do? You just stand there longer or you take a shower longer? Because my hair - I don’t know about you, but it has to be perfect. Perfect.”

Also this week, the US Energy Department issued a ruling that sets no limits on energy or water use for new washers and dryers with short cycle times in their “normal” setting.

The rule sets up separate product classifications for residential clothes washers and dryers with cycle times less than 30 minutes and 45 minutes for front-loading washers.

The department said the rule on washers and dryers lets manufacturers offer new products that meet consumer demand for products with shorter cycle times.

Environmental advocates had a different response.

“With millions of washers and dryers sold in the United States every year, the rule announced today could lead to higher utility bills and additional carbon emissions from powering them,” said the Natural Resources Defense Council.