EPA, NSF Int'l Partner to Certify Water Efficiency of Toilets
March 28, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
NSF International is participating in a new certification program designed to verify the water efficiency and performance of high-efficiency toilets, which is designed to save up to 900 billion gallons of water each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The effort is a key part of EPA's new WaterSense program, which recently approved NSF's participation in the program as an independent product certification organization.
The EPA launched the WaterSense program in 2006 to focus on high-efficiency products and services designed to conserve water.
This voluntary labeling program is available to all companies that partner with EPA and manufacture, sell or distribute household plumbing fixtures.
NSF was approved to certify high-efficiency toilets to the WaterSense specification as an EPA-Licensed Certification Body. The certification process will consist of product testing, including testing that ensures high-efficiency toilets consume no more than 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF) while successfully meeting all required performance testing.
WaterSense is promoted as making it easier to identify water-efficient products and practices. By choosing products designated with the WaterSense label, consumers will be saving water for future use, said NSF International. According to the EPA, the average household adopting water-efficient products and practices could save enough water to supply a year's worth of drinking water to 150 of its neighbors.
Certified products will be included on an EPA product registry and will bear the WaterSense label. In addition to authorizing the use of the label and providing the artwork, NSF will list all of its certified products on its web site at www.nsf.org. Ongoing annual inspections will ensure continued compliance. A more detailed list of requirements can be found at www.epa.gov/watersense/docs/spec_het508.pdf.
"EPA's WaterSense program is the ideal complement to NSF's overall sustainability initiatives," said NSF Vice President Bob Ferguson. "While providing new services for our clients, we will also help to conserve water and protect the environment for future generations."
During the initial phase of the WaterSense program, the EPA is focusing on high-efficiency toilets. The program is expected to expand to include requirements for high-efficiency bathroom sink faucets. Proposed requirements can be found at www.epa.gov/watersense/partners/specs/faucet_background.htm.
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Future plans to expand the WaterSense program may include requirements for showerheads, irrigation control equipment and other commercial equipment.
Source: NSF International.