AWWA SOURCES59276

Clean water is a precious national resource, and wise water use is one of the ways in which individuals, communities, industry, and government can help to protect the quality and quantity of the nation's water supply. Purchasers of water using products are increasingly interested in water efficiency. Manufacturers and retailers, water and wastewater utilities, environmental groups, consumer organizations and others want to promote efficient products. Unfortunately, information on water use of various products is difficult to locate, or the information is not easily comparable between various brands and models. To fill the void in comparable water use information about various products, this paper discusses how the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is exploring a national program for voluntary water-efficient product labeling and other market enhancement approaches. USEPA's principal goals for its market enhancement program for water-efficient products are to: reduce water and wastewater infrastructure costs; and, conserve water supplies. The USEPA's proposed national market enhancement program for water-efficient products will aim to: help consumers identify and understand the many advantages of water-efficient products for residential or commercial use; motivate manufacturers to produce more competitive water-efficient products; and, encourage and help distributors, retailers, and local water utilities to promote these products.