Plumbing Manufacturers International Urges EPA to Preserve Widely Supported WaterSense Program

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#EPA–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.

Contacts

Media Contact
Plumbing Manufacturers International
Ray
Valek, 708-352-8695
[email protected]