To reflect changes in the plumbing marketplace and encourage more water savings in homes and businesses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to revise its criteria for faucets and faucet accessories to earn the WaterSense label. On March 7, WaterSense issued a Notice of Intent to revise its High-Efficiency Lavatory Faucet Specification, which covers faucets and accessories such as aerators sold for residential and other private use.

EPA released the specification in 2007; since then, most faucets of this type now sold in the United States meet or exceed the current WaterSense maximum flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm). What’s more, several states have adopted regulations that require that private lavatory faucets not exceed flow rates of 1.5 gpm, and four states do not allow the sale of these faucets with a flow rate over 1.2 gpm.

To address this growth of water-saving fixtures in the marketplace, EPA is considering lowering the maximum flow rate for private lavatory faucets to earn the WaterSense label to either 1.2 gpm or 1.0 gpm. WaterSense will also clarify that bar sink faucets are covered by the specification. In addition, EPA is considering allowing other types of faucets to earn the WaterSense label, including public use lavatory faucets, kitchen faucets, and metering and self-closing faucets.

EPA has identified the water efficiency and performance criteria it is considering for a revised specification for faucets, as well as key discussion points where it is seeking feedback on the revision. The Notice of Intent, including potential revisions and discussion points, can be reviewed at www.epa.gov/watersense/bathroom-faucets.

Comments on the Notice of Intent to revise the WaterSense High-Efficiency Lavatory Faucet Specification can be submitted via email to watersense-products@erg.com. Please submit comments by April 26, 2024. A public meeting will also be held via webinar on Thursday, March 28, 2024, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern to gather input from interested parties. Questions can be directed to the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or watersense@epa.gov.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. Since the program’s inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save a cumulative 7.5 trillion gallons of water and more than $171 billion in water and energy bills.