Alliance Supports Increased WaterSense Funding

On January 5, 2012 the U.S. Water Alliance joined 22 other water organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, American Rivers, Alliance for Water Efficiency, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, in signing a letter addressed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging a 20% increase in funding for its WaterSense program. WaterSense is a voluntary program that develops specifications for water efficient products through a public process. If a manufacturer makes a product that meets EPA specifications, the product is eligible for third-party testing to ensure the stated efficiency and performance criteria have been met. If the product passes the test, the manufacturer may use the WaterSense label with its product – making it easy for consumers to differentiate among products that use less water.

An increase in funding would allow for additional product specifications, market research, partner collaboration, and program documentation. This change could yield substantial additional water and energy savings over time – savings that will be even more valuable to consumers and communities facing the uncertainties of a changing climate on the nation’s water supplies. Now more than ever, WaterSense is an especially good value due to its ability to leverage significant non-federal resources with a small amount of federal funding.

Click HERE to view the letter.