Dishwashers can now use more water, reversing a 2020 efficiency rule

The US Energy Department wants to undo a rule that limited how much water dishwashers could use. This means new dishwashers will be allowed to use more water per cycle than they have been for the past few years.

In 2020, the previous administration set new, stricter water efficiency standards for dishwashers. This proposed change would roll back those standards to the levels set by Congress decades ago. It means manufacturers will have more flexibility in design, but consumers might see higher water bills or less efficient appliances.