Press Releases

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright re-introduced legislation that would incentivize water conservation and help consumers cut costs on water bills. The WATER Use Act (H.R. 3248) would codify the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s WaterSense program, which helps consumers identify water-efficient products, such as faucets and toilets.

WaterSense is a voluntary certification labeling program that acts as a water-friendly companion to Energy Star, which is a similar energy-efficiency program administered by the EPA and the Department of Energy. Since the EPA launched the WaterSense program 10 years ago, Americans have saved an estimated $32.6 billion in water and energy bills and 1.5 trillion gallons of water.

“WaterSense certified services and products are at least 20 percent more efficient than average products in the same category,” said Rep. Cartwright. “These more efficient products can save billions of gallons of water each year. This bill takes responsible and commonsense approaches to improving consumers’ water conservation.”

In addition, the WATER Use Act directs all federal agencies to give purchase preference to WaterSense-certified products and services, providing greater certainty than existing Executive Orders addressing the issue. The bill would also provide assistance to state, local, and tribal governments; wastewater, water, and energy utilities; and nonprofit organizations to support incentive programs for consumer purchases of residential water-efficient products and services.

“This legislation formally authorizes EPA's successful WaterSense program, a public-private partnership, that delivers a "win-win" by encouraging voluntary reduction of indoor water consumption by consumers and businesses through highly efficient, safe plumbing products, services, and practices that save water, as well as money and energy,” said Kerry Stackpole, CEO of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI).