Trump signs order to lift water restrictions, reversing Obama-Biden climate change rules
'I like to take a nice shower, take care of my beautiful hair,' says president at signing ceremony, but does not address drought conditions across much of the US
ISTANBUL
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to lift restrictions on water flow from showerheads, a move aimed at rolling back water conservation measures instituted by the Barack Obama and Joe Biden administrations in the face of droughts and climate change.
At a Wednesday signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump expressed frustration with current water pressure regulations, which limit flow to 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) per minute.
"In my case, I like to take a nice shower, take care of my beautiful hair," Trump said. "I have to stand under the showerhead for 15 minutes under these regulations, which I think is ridiculous."
Trump has long made similar complaints about water conservation measures.
The executive order directs the Energy Department to rescind the restrictions, not only on showerheads but also on other water-using appliances, including toilets and dishwashers.
A White House fact sheet released on Wednesday emphasized the move as a response to "overregulation," claiming that such restrictions choke the economy and infringe on personal freedoms.
"We’re going to get rid of those restrictions. You have many places where they have water, they have so much water they don’t know what to do with it. But people buy a house, they turn on the sink, and water barely comes out. They take a shower, water barely comes out. And it’s an unnecessary restriction," Trump said, according to the sheet.
The new order seeks to ensure that Americans have access to more water-efficient appliances without excessive bureaucratic interference, said the fact sheet.
"We’re going to open it up so that people can live," Trump added during the ceremony.
He emphasized that the move would free Americans from restrictive regulations and give them the freedom to choose showerheads and appliances that meet their needs.
However, such moves may not survive the requirements of climate change, with 43.37% of the 48 US contiguous states in a state of drought as of April 1, according to the US government’s Drought Monitor.
The Southwestern US, including such water-poor states as New Mexico and Arizona, also has the fastest growth of any US region.
