Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) applauded the Senate for passing the bipartisan America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (S. 3021), which includes a PMI-supported provision to authorize the EPA’s successful WaterSense program, as well as funding to  modernize the nation’s drinking water infrastructure. 

With the House having passed this legislation on Sept. 13, the measure is now headed to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature.

“Gaining congressional approval for WaterSense authorization is an achievement PMI, our members and our coalition partners have steadfastly worked toward for many years,” said PMI’s CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole. “Authorization will provide certainty to the WaterSense program and its partners. It’s great to have the finish line in our sights.”

PMI applauds and recognizes the following senators for their leadership and long-standing support of WaterSense authorization legislation: Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Tom Carper (D-Del.), committee ranking member; John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).

Over the past few weeks, PMI actively engaged with key stakeholders in support of the WaterSense authorization language included in the bill. More than 1,700 WaterSense partners participate in the public-private program, including manufacturers, water utilities, building groups, retailers, associations and communities all dedicated to better water efficiency in the U.S. Since the program began in 2006, plumbing manufacturers have developed more than 27,000 models of WaterSense-labeled products, including showerheads, toilets, urinals, faucets, faucet accessories, and commercial pre-rinse sprays.

Products earning the WaterSense label have been certified as meeting high performance standards while being at least 20 percent more water efficient than other products meeting federal standards in the same category. Over the past decade, WaterSense products have helped consumers save more than 2.1 trillion gallons of water and over $14.2 billion in water and energy bills.

www.safeplumbing.org