July 2006
Lowering the flow
A new federal program makes water conservation a priority
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently launched a program that will make it easier for American consumers
to choose water-efficient products and services. As part of the WaterSense labeling plan, home products like bathroom faucets and toilets will boast the WaterSense logo--but only if they perform at least 20 percent
more efficiently than their less-efficient counterparts.
"Research shows that people want to use water efficiently--they just need help with how to do it," explains Benjamin H. Grumbles,
the EPA's assistant administrator for water. Water-using appliances and products tagged with the WaterSense label are scheduled
to hit stores in early 2007, enabling consumers to lower their water-utility bills and help the environment through conservation.
The EPA is currently in the early stages of reviewing and researching a wide range of home appliances to be considered for
WaterSense labeling. It's also working closely to include water efficiency as part of EnergyGuide labeling of appliances such
as washing machines and dishwashers.
Keep in mind that efforts to reduce water consumption don’t always result in the intended savings. For example, as Consumer Reports found in our latest report on toilets, some toilets that use less water per flush might not perform as well. The result? You may need to flush twice, which in the end uses more water overall. So, choose a product by its performance abilities first and then consider its water-saving capabilities.
The EPA has already begun working on a certification program--anticipated to be available in fall 2006--for companies that work with commercial and residential irrigation systems. According to the EPA, nationwide irrigation water use totals more than 7 billion gallons per day, with more than 50 percent of that water possibly wasted because of evaporation, runoff, or overwatering. The program will require designers, installers, maintenance professionals, and auditors certified under WaterSense to be proficient in water-efficient design and operation of such irrigation systems, so that consumers will be able to choose better services. (For advice on how to water your lawn--and do so efficiently--read our primer.)
By setting new efficiency standards and providing a label to identify products that conserve, the EPA hopes the WaterSense program will not only inform consumers who want to purchase but also encourage a new generation of water-efficient products. "Our company intends to compete vigorously in this new sector by offering consumers many new products that save water," said Jim Dwyer, president of bath and kitchen for American Standard, when the program was announced in June.
"Protecting and preserving the nation's water supply is critical to our economic future and human health," says the EPA's Grumbles. "By using water efficiently now, we can help ensure water supplies for the future."
Keep in mind that efforts to reduce water consumption don’t always result in the intended savings. For example, as Consumer Reports found in our latest report on toilets, some toilets that use less water per flush might not perform as well. The result? You may need to flush twice, which in the end uses more water overall. So, choose a product by its performance abilities first and then consider its water-saving capabilities.
The EPA has already begun working on a certification program--anticipated to be available in fall 2006--for companies that work with commercial and residential irrigation systems. According to the EPA, nationwide irrigation water use totals more than 7 billion gallons per day, with more than 50 percent of that water possibly wasted because of evaporation, runoff, or overwatering. The program will require designers, installers, maintenance professionals, and auditors certified under WaterSense to be proficient in water-efficient design and operation of such irrigation systems, so that consumers will be able to choose better services. (For advice on how to water your lawn--and do so efficiently--read our primer.)
By setting new efficiency standards and providing a label to identify products that conserve, the EPA hopes the WaterSense program will not only inform consumers who want to purchase but also encourage a new generation of water-efficient products. "Our company intends to compete vigorously in this new sector by offering consumers many new products that save water," said Jim Dwyer, president of bath and kitchen for American Standard, when the program was announced in June.
"Protecting and preserving the nation's water supply is critical to our economic future and human health," says the EPA's Grumbles. "By using water efficiently now, we can help ensure water supplies for the future."
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