Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced the Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2017. The bipartisan legislation would formally authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, a public-private partnership that encourages the voluntary use of water-efficient plumbing products, services, and practices by consumers and businesses. Since starting in 2006, the program has saved them more than 2.1 trillion gal of water and $46.3 billion in water and energy bills.
“Installing water-efficient plumbing products saves water and reduces strain on water resources, energy and infrastructure,” said Plumbing Manufacturers Intl. (PMI) CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole. “PMI and its members appreciate Senators Udall and Portman for spearheading this important legislation, which will improve our nation’s water efficiency. We look forward to working together on its swift passage.”
The WaterSense label gives consumers a way to identify water-efficient plumbing products. WaterSense products are certified to meet high-performance standards. The program has grown to include more than 21,000 WaterSense products for bathrooms (toilets, showerheads, faucets and urinals), commercial kitchens, and irrigation systems, according to the WaterSense program.
“WaterSense is win-win-win—for water savings, for consumers and for manufacturers,” Stackpole said.