EPA to revise criteria for WaterSense faucets and faucet accessories

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to revise its criteria for faucets and faucet accessories to earn the WaterSense label.

The specification launched in 2007; since then, most faucets now sold in the U.S. meet or exceed the current WaterSense maximum flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm). Several states have adopted regulations that require that private lavatory faucets not exceed flow rates of 1.5 gpm, and four states do not allow the sale of these faucets with a flow rate over 1.2 gpm.

EPA is considering lowering the maximum flow rate for WaterSense private lavatory faucets to earn the label to either 1.2 gpm or 1.0 gpm. EPA will also clarify that bar sink faucets are covered by the specification. In addition, EPA is considering allowing other types of faucets to earn the WaterSense label, including public use lavatory faucets, kitchen faucets, and metering and self-closing faucets.

Since the program’s inception, WaterSense has helped consumers save a cumulative 7.5 trillion gallons of water and more than $171 billion in water and energy bills, EPA says.