Media Release (PDF >)
You may have seen or heard the term WaterSense® recently. What is it and what does it mean to you?
WaterSense® is a national program sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that seeks to protect the future of our water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices. It is a companion labeling program to the well known EnergyStar® program.
Cascade Water Alliance is a WaterSense® partner, and the installation of WaterSense® labeled products in homes and businesses represents a major portion of the savings from Cascade’s conservation program.
Cascade offers rebates for toilets, urinals and weather-based irrigation controllers with the WaterSense® label. This year, hundreds of Cascade customers have taken advantage of toilet rebates for WaterSense® labeled products. In addition to reduced water use and utility bill savings, customers are reporting great performance from WaterSense® labeled toilets.
WaterSense® has adopted a set of principles that guides the EPA in selecting products for evaluation, developing product specifications and determining label use. In order to be considered for the WaterSense® label, products must:
• Perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts.
• Be about 20 percent more water-efficient than average products in that category.
• Be independently certified.
• Provide measurable results.
• Achieve water efficiency through several technology options.
WaterSense® labeled products perform well, save water, energy and money, and encourage innovation in manufacturing. Currently, the following products and services are eligible for the WaterSense® label:
• Bathroom sink faucets
• Flushing urinals
• High-efficiency toilets
• Landscape irrigation services
• New homes
• Pre-rinse spray valves
• Showerheads
• Weather or sensor-based irrigation controllers
What do Cascade customers say?
In a recent survey of toilet replacement program participants, 93 percent of respondents said the performance of their new toilets were excellent (76 percent) or good (17 percent), and 80 percent said the new high efficiency toilets performed better than their old toilets. Additional customer comments to the survey included:
“The replacement of these two toilets has made my life much happier.
I retired my plunger to the garage.”
“These toilets have been an excellent addition to our home.
We no longer have to flush twice to get results.”
“We have already noticed a decrease in our water bill.”