New legislation introduced in the House of Representatives on October 8 would promote the use of water-efficient products and appliances by formally codifying EPA’s WaterSense program and directing federal agencies to give preference to WaterSense certified products when making purchasing decisions.
Sponsored by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Penn.), the “Water Advanced Technologies for Efficient Resource Use (WATER Use) Act” (H.R. 3720) would authorize the WaterSense program, which EPA established as a voluntary labeling and recognition program for water-efficient products and appliances in 2006. According to Rep. Cartwright, today WaterSense-certified products are at least 20 percent more efficient than the average comparable product.
With WaterSense standards codified in statute, the bill would require federal departments and agencies to give preference to WaterSense products when making purchase orders – thus making federal operations more water efficient over time. The bill would also offer assistance to state and local governments and water utilities that offer incentive programs aimed at encouraging residents and customers to purchase residential water-efficient products.
H.R. 3720 was introduced with the support of 18 cosponsors, all Democrats. Several similar proposals to formally authorize WaterSense have been offered in recent years, but none have advanced though Congress.