 shower shower showers account for 17 of the water used in an average home two factors influence the water usage of a shower  flow rate and duration  older model showerheads can use as much as 5 gallons per minute gpm per minute federal plumbing standards specify that new showerheads can use no more than 25 gpm by replacing older showerhead with a water efficient model you can save up to 50 of the water used for showering for maximum water efficiency select a shower head with a flow rate of less than 25 gpm showerheads typically need to be replaced every 10 years many water providers give lowflow showerheads out to their customers for free or you can purchase one at most home improvement stores for between 1020 not sure what your shower s flow rate is  use this quick test to find out place a bucketmarked in gallon incrementsunder your shower head turn on the shower at the normal water pressure you use time how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket to the 1gallon mark if it takes less than 20 seconds to reach the 1gallon mark your shower uses about 3 gpm and you could benefit from a lowflow shower head  indoor  