Since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the WaterSense® program in 2006, consumers and businesses have saved 6.4 trillion gallons of water, or the amount of water used by all U.S. households for eight months, by selecting WaterSense-labeled plumbing and irrigation products. In 2021 alone, WaterSense-labeled toilets, faucet aerators, showerheads, urinals, spray sprinkler bodies, and irrigation controllers saved more than 1.1 trillion gallons of water.
WaterSense is a voluntary program that is both a label for water-efficient products and a resource for people to conserve water. WaterSense has more than 2,100 utility, manufacturer, retail, builder, and other organizational partners who have been helping people save resources by producing and promoting water-saving products, homes, and programs.
In addition to saving water, WaterSense-labeled products have helped reduce the amount of energy needed to pump, treat, and heat water by 754 billion kilowatt hours over the past 16 years, which is enough energy to supply a year’s worth of power to more than 70 million homes. These energy savings have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 288 million metric tons—which is equivalent to planting 4.8 billion trees or taking 62 million vehicles off the road. EPA estimates that these water, energy, and sewer savings from WaterSense labeled products have also helped Americans save $135 billion in utility bills since 2006.
Plumbing and irrigation products that have earned the WaterSense label are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. WaterSense also labels homes that have been certified to use less water than typical new construction and programs that certify irrigation professionals trained with water-efficient practices and knowledge. To learn more about the history and accomplishments of the program and its partners, visit the WaterSense website.
Source: WaterSense
