|
 
|
Plumbing News
Plumbing Manufacturers
International Applauds Preservation of WaterSense, Increased
Water Infrastructure Funding in New Federal Budget Package.
In a victory for the
plumbing
manufacturing industry, consumers, water utilities and water
conservation advocates, the EPA’s
WaterSense
program will be funded at fiscal year 2017 levels until Sept. 30,
2018, as part of a $1.3 trillion government spending bill passed by
Congress and signed by President Donald Trump.
Reflecting a bipartisan approach to addressing the nation’s water
issues, the bill also contains significant increases for clean water
infrastructure investment.
• $600 million for EPA State Revolving Funds (SRFs) – split equally
between the
Drinking Water SRF and the
Clean Water SRF
– for a total of $2.9 billion in funding – the most significant new
money for these programs in many years. These federal-state
partnerships provide low-cost financing for water quality
infrastructure projects such as improving drinking water treatment;
fixing leaky or old pipes; and replacing or constructing water
storage tanks.
• $63 million for the
Water
Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) – a
significant increase in funding — exceeding the previously
authorized fiscal year 2018 levels.
“Plumbing
Manufacturers International and our members and partners have
worked diligently for more than a year to preserve and maintain
WaterSense,” said PMI’s CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole.
“Today is a victory for everyone who cares about assuring that water
remains a sustainable resource in the United States. We look forward
to working with Congress and the administration to keep WaterSense
funding in the fiscal 2019 budget.”
In particular, PMI applauds the Interior/EPA Appropriations
Subcommittee members, led by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), for
taking a strong stance for the continued funding and operation of
the WaterSense program.
Story continues below
↓
advertisement | your ad here
In a
letter to EPA head Scott Pruitt sent earlier this month,
Stackpole put forth a compelling case why the federal agency
should continue to preserve and fund WaterSense, which has
provided valuable water- and cost-saving benefits over the
past 10 years.
“EPA’s WaterSense program is an example of an effective
collaboration between industry and the government in
determining voluntary water efficient performance measures
that can be used by consumers, industry, as well as states
and local governments,” Stackpole wrote. ‘It is universally
supported by manufacturers and the public and private
agencies charged with supplying water to American households
and businesses.”
Plumbing products bearing the WaterSense label are at least
20 percent more water efficient than standard products. To
earn the WaterSense label, products must also meet high
performance standards and meet third-party certification
criteria. 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.
PMI and its members have participated in the WaterSense
program since its inception in 2006. As a result of the
program, plumbing manufacturers have developed more than
20,000 models of WaterSense-labeled products for bathrooms
(toilets, showerheads, faucets, and urinals) and commercial
kitchens. Today, more than 1,700 WaterSense partners,
including manufacturers, water utilities, building groups,
retailers, associations, and communities, collaborate with
the EPA on the program.
About Plumbing Manufacturers International
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 90 percent
of the United States’ plumbing products. As part of its
mission, PMI advocates for plumbing product performance and
innovation contributing to water efficiency and savings,
sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer
satisfaction. PMI’s members are industry leaders in
producing safe, reliable and innovative water-efficient
plumbing technologies. PMI members manufacture
water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads and
other products at more than 70 locations in 25 states and
that are sold in home improvement stores, hardware stores
and showrooms. 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.
www.safeplumbing.org.
# # #
|
|
