Will the overall claim that low flow showers cause more net water use hold up thru mid 2026?
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Claims that low flow showers aren't just super annoying but also waste more water have just come out. Will this hold up? It seems too good to be true!

If by deadline there is a serious academic debate with published and in unbiased studies reversing this, then NO

If no studies YES

If studies but they just push us back to "it varies/it's unclear" then still YES since this is a win for the "don't mess with my shower camp"

If it's pushed back on some countries totally but meaningfully still could be real in a significant way in others, still YES

The tweet: https://x.com/ianwalker/status/1765639947720019988?s=20

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To me this sounds similar to the "wine has health benefits" studies. I don't think it's correct to conclude that the finding holds up, unless it replicates. Also, comments here indicate that the viral headline isn't the conclusion the author thinks you should draw.

The linked tweet discusses showers with greater pressure, not greater flow rate

@NathanNguyen yep, someone asked a similar question in the replies:

Reply: Is that enough data to say I should remove my flow limiter?

Author: No, low flow is better than high flow - but it's even better at high pressure too.

It seems that reducing flow can increase pressure:

"In short, a flow restrictor increases pressure on the upstream side of the restrictor. The flow output is decreased in water output per minute, but the force with which it comes out increases."

This makes intuitive sense: If you partially cover a garden hose, the water jets further (increased pressure) and the flow rate drops (approx constant pressure × flow = power in the pump). If you cover it too much, both flow and pressure drop and the water dribbles out.

@fwbt Makes sense. I bet YES anyways because I don’t expect there to be a “serious academic debate” about this

I want to water blast the oils from my hair.
If I wanted to dampen myself I'd use a sponge.