At its spring meeting, the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) joined forces with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work with their thousands of members to help educate consumers on how to conserve water for future generations and reduce costs on their water bills.
The New England-wide water professionals’ member association is now part of the team to help promote EPA’s “WaterSense” program, whose aim is to decrease indoor and outdoor water use through high-efficiency products and simple water-saving practices. The program helps customers identify water-efficient products in the marketplace that promote water-saving techniques, thus reducing stress on water systems and the environment.
WaterSense labeled products, which include high-efficiency toilets, meet EPA's criteria for efficiency and performance. Certified products can bear the WaterSense label, which makes it easy for consumers to make product choices that use less water and save money—with no sacrifice on quality or performance. WaterSense is also labeling certification programs for irrigation professionals, helping to encourage water efficiency in the landscaping business.
“Looking for the WaterSense label is an easy way for New Englanders to save water and money,” said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “There are many water-efficient products currently available—all consumers need to do is look for the WaterSense label. Using water more efficiently can help delay the need to create more supplies, saving communities money and resources, as well as ensuring that water will be available for future generations.”
“NEWWA is proud to be a member of WaterSense and join in the effort to increase public awareness of how important it is to protect and conserve our critical water supplies. New England’s water suppliers are leaders in protecting water resources for the future and are committed to helping consumers save water and money by promoting these water-efficient products—it makes sense,” said Ray Raposa, NEWWA executive director.
NEWWA joins 16 other WaterSense partners in Massachusetts, some who have joined within the past several months, including: the Ipswich River Watershed Association, the Neponset River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection, the Town of Falmouth Water Dept. and retailers E.F. Winslow and Salem Plumbing Supply & Designer Bath. There are also 28 individual irrigation partners based in Massachussetts.
WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by EPA to help protect valuable resources for future generations by making water-efficiency a clear and preferred choice among consumers and businesses.
In addition to being a WaterSense partner, NEWWA is one of multiple partner organizations that will sign a Statement of Intent with EPA promoting effective utility management. The statement will endorse “Ten Attributes of Effectively Managed Water Sector Utilities,” which were developed by a stakeholder group of collaborating organizations and utility managers and, like WaterSense, are a key element of the EPA's Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative.
More information on WaterSense, including a full list of labeled water-efficient products and irrigation certification programs is available at www.epa.gov/watersense.
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