Plumbing Manufacturers International Urges EPA to Preserve Widely Supported WaterSense Program

Washington, D.C. – In a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) put forth a compelling case why the federal agency should preserve and maintain the WaterSense program, which has provided valuable water- and cost-saving benefits over the past 10 years.

Dated March 6, 2018, the letter from PMI CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole expressed disappointment that President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2019 budget calls for the elimination of the voluntary, public-private partnership program, despite House and Senate Interior/Appropriations Subcommittees rejecting its elimination in their FY18 report language.

“EPA’s WaterSense program is an example of an effective collaboration between industry and the government in determining voluntary water efficient performance measures that can be used by consumers, industry, as well as states and local governments,” Stackpole wrote. ‘It is universally supported by manufacturers and the public and private agencies charged with supplying water to American households and businesses.”

WaterSense encourages the voluntary reduction of water consumption by consumers and businesses. Plumbing products bearing the WaterSense label are at least 20 percent more water efficient than standard products. To earn the WaterSense label, products must also meet high performance standards and meet third-party certification criteria.

WaterSense products have saved 2.1 trillion gallons of water and $14.2 billion in water and energy bills

Over the past decade, WaterSense products have helped consumers save a cumulative 2.1 trillion gallons of water and over $14.2 billion in water and energy bills. “The WaterSense label is critical to consumers seeking to identify and purchase a water-efficient plumbing product,” Stackpole stated.

PMI and its members have participated in the WaterSense program since its inception in 2006. As a result of the program, plumbing manufacturers have developed more than 20,000 models of WaterSense-labeled products for bathrooms (toilets, showerheads, faucets, and urinals) and commercial kitchens. Today, more than 1,700 WaterSense partners, including manufacturers, water utilities, building groups, retailers, associations, and communities, collaborate with the EPA on the program.

Stackpole expressed the desire to meet with Pruitt and EPA staff, He also invited them to visit PMI member facilities to see first-hand the industry’s ongoing technology research and development, as well as the production of innovative, highly engineered plumbing products.

Read the letter at https://www.safeplumbing.org/files/safeplumbing.org/documents/advocacy-issues/3-6-18-EPA-ltr-supporting-watersense.pdf.

About Plumbing Manufacturers International

Plumbing Manufacturers International is the voluntary, not-for-profit international industry association of manufacturers of plumbing products, serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member companies produce 90 percent of the United States’ plumbing products. As part of its mission, PMI advocates for plumbing product performance and innovation contributing to water efficiency and savings, sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer satisfaction. PMI’s members are industry leaders in producing safe, reliable and innovative water-efficient plumbing technologies. PMI members manufacture water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads and other products at more than 70 locations in 25 states and that are sold in home improvement stores, hardware stores and showrooms. For more information on PMI or its conferences, contact the organization at 1921 Rohlwing Road, Unit G, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008; tel.: 847-481-5500; fax: 847-481-5501. www.safeplumbing.org.

Media Contact

Plumbing Manufacturers International, Ray Valek, ray@valekco.com, 708-352-8695