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Plumbing News
Plumbing Manufacturers
International Supports "Federal Water in the 21st Century"
Legislation.
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) expressed its support
for “W21: Water in the 21st Century Act.” The legislation –
reintroduced in both the House (H.R. 291) and Senate (S. 176) –
would formally authorize the Environmental Protection Agency’s
WaterSense program and spur other initiatives promoting water
efficiency, savings and sustainability.
Proponents of the legislation says droughts in California and other
arid states are straining water supplies, creating an urgent need
for cost-effective solutions. PMI and many of its member companies
voluntarily participate as partners in the WaterSense program, which
certifies and labels toilets, faucets, showerheads and other
plumbing products that are 20 percent more water efficient than
federal law and that meet performance standards.
Barbara C. Higgens, PMI CEO and executive director, said formal
authorization of WaterSense would strengthen the program and
encourage more consumers to contribute to water savings by
voluntarily buying WaterSense products. “Real and immediate water
savings can be achieved now, by simply retrofitting old, inefficient
fixtures with high-efficiency toilets, showerheads and faucets,” she
stated, in a letter to Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who reintroduced the
Senate bill. The House bill was reintroduced by 26 representatives
led by Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), John Garamendi (CA-03), Lois
Capps (CA-24) and Jared Huffman (CA-02). Story continues below
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Consumers have saved 757
billion gallons of water and $14.2 billion in water and
energy bills since 2006 due to WaterSense products,
according to the EPA. See WaterSense is Common Sense for
more program benefits.
Higgens noted that the WaterSense program also encourages
innovation and promotes growth in manufacturing – an
important economic goal. “WaterSense is win-win-win – for
water savings, for consumers and for manufacturers,” she
said.
In addition to PMI, the W21 legislation is supported by
other water-efficiency advocates including the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California, the Western Recycled
Water Coalition, WaterNow, the Clean Water Construction
Coalition, the Northern California Water Association, the
North Bay Water Reuse Authority and the WateReuse
Association.
About PMI
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 about 90
percent of the nation’s plumbing products. PMI is dedicated
to promoting plumbing product performance and innovation
contributing to water savings, sustainability, public health
and safety, and consumer satisfaction. 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. Visit our website at
www.safeplumbing.org.
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