What is EPA WaterSense?

What it is

WaterSense was launched in 2006. It works much like ENERGY STAR does for energy: products such as toilets, faucets, showerheads and irrigation controllers can carry the label if they meet EPA specifications and are certified by a licensed body.

The program also partners with utilities, manufacturers, retailers, builders and organizations that promote efficient water use. Its WaterSense at Work resources give commercial and institutional facilities best practices for managing water.

WaterSense does not regulate use. It gives buyers a trusted label and gives facilities a framework for planning water efficiency.

Who it applies to

Manufacturers, utilities, builders and facility owners in the US. Commercial, institutional and public facilities often use WaterSense labeled fixtures and the program's best practices as part of water efficiency plans.

Efficient fixtures reduce demand by design, but they do not catch a running toilet, a stuck irrigation valve or a cooling tower overflow. That is why measured use matters as much as product choice.

How it is measured

For facilities, the evidence of water efficiency is measured use before and after changes.

• Whole site and submetered water use
• Fixture inventories and specifications
• Water use per occupant or per unit of activity
• Verified reductions after upgrades

How Aqueduct helps

Aqueduct supplies measured water use and verified reductions for facilities pursuing water efficiency goals.

• aQ WaterGuard submetering by building, floor and zone
• Leak and overuse detection that catches waste fixtures cannot
• Baselines before upgrades and verification at the meter after them
• aQ Assurance exports for sustainability and certification reporting