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EPA’s WaterSense 2014 Partners of the Year Honored for Efficiency Efforts to Protect Nation’s Water Supply

Release Date: 10/09/2014
Contact Information: Jennifer Colaizzi, [email protected], 202-564-7776

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the 2014 WaterSense Partners of the Year for their commitment to promoting water efficiency and strengthening the drought resiliency of communities across the country, during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference today in Las Vegas, Nev.

“As the United States experiences the driest conditions in more than a decade, there has never been a more important time for EPA and WaterSense to focus on water efficiency” said Ken Kopocis, deputy assistant administrator in EPA’s Office of Water. “We are working to find ways to further reduce water consumption to support healthy ecosystems and communities. EPA is pleased to honor an impressive group of WaterSense program leaders, whose efforts to build strong, resilient water systems are helping communities nationwide meet challenges of extreme weather, drought, and other effects of our changing climate.”

The 2014 WaterSense Partners of the Year winners, along with more than 1,500 other WaterSense partners, have helped American consumers save 757 billion gallons of water - enough to supply all of the homes in the United States with water for 26 days—since 2006. WaterSense partners combined efforts have resulted in a $14.2 billion reduction in consumer water and energy bills over the past 8 years and a reduction of 37 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission.

Building on the important work of the WaterSense program, and as part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, EPA and WaterSense partners are continuing to find ways to enhance water efficiency. Improving water efficiency helps communities to save water, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA’s WaterSense program seeks to protect our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products and services. By encouraging people to use less water now, these partners are helping to ensure we have clean and safe water supplies in the future.


The Alliance for Water Efficiency and the Southern Nevada Water Authority cosponsored the ceremony.

2014 Sustained Excellence Award Winner:

Kohler Co. (Kohler, Wis.) received the highest level of WaterSense recognition for the second year in a row for continuing to implement new, innovative technologies. One example is a dual-flush trip lever for tank-type toilets that makes selecting a smaller flush easier for those with dexterity challenges. Kohler also promoted WaterSense labeled products in 2013 with its cross-country “Trust the Flush” bus tour to showcase WaterSense labeled toilets’ proven performance at more than 185 events.

2014 Partners of the Year:

Promotional Partner of the Year: Cobb County (Ga.) Water System’s robust rebate program for WaterSense labeled toilets contributed to a decrease in the county’s annual average daily water use by 10 million gallons per day compared to 2010. This is the third WaterSense Promotional Partner of the Year award for Cobb County, which also promoted WaterSense campaigns in its Water $aver quarterly e-newsletter and via Twitter with the #fixaleak and #showerbetter hashtags.

Promotional Partner of the Year: Colorado Springs (Colo.) Utilities earned its second WaterSense Promotional Partner of the Year award by hosting more than 20,000 visitors in its Conservation and Environmental Center. The center displayed WaterSense labeled products, a water savings comparison between labeled products and less efficient fixtures, and facts about the water, energy and cost savings achieved with WaterSense labeled products.

Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Delta Faucet Company, (Indianapolis, In.) a three-time Manufacturer Partner of the Year, created an online faucet video gallery and website that featured WaterSense labeled products in more than 20 videos, collectively receiving more than 38,000 views.

Manufacturer Partner of the Year: HydroPoint Data Systems (Petaluma, Calif.) helped customers sustain their water savings in 2013 with the release of a Water Budget Manager tool that allows users to see, track and report a landscape’s water consumption and water bills after installing WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers.

Retailer Partner of the Year: The Home Depot (Atlanta, Ga.) was recognized by EPA for the third time for its strong efforts to support rebate programs across the country for WaterSense labeled toilets, showerheads and irrigation controllers, helping consumers achieve more than $36 million in product markdowns.

Builder Partner of the Year: KB Home (Los Angeles, Calif.) won its fourth consecutive WaterSense Builder Partner of the Year award and broke new ground in 2013 with the introduction of its Double ZeroHouse 2.0 concept to increase water efficiency and other resource savings.

Professional Certifying Organization Partner of Year: The Irrigation Association (Falls Church, Va.) received its second award for its efforts to educate irrigation professionals and contractors about WaterSense and cross-promote WaterSense’s Sprinkler Spruce-Up alongside its Smart Irrigation Month campaign.

Professional Certifying Organization Partner of Year: Sonoma-Marin (Calif.) Saving Water Partnership worked with other professional certifying organizations to collectively certify nearly 200 irrigation professionals as part of its WaterSense labeled certification program in 2013, bringing the total number of their certified professionals to 837.

Licensed Certification Provider Partner of the Year: Energy Inspectors Corporation (Las Vegas, Nev.) inspected 51 WaterSense labeled new homes in 2013 and collaborated with KB Home to educate homeowners about the water- and energy-saving benefits of WaterSense labeled models.

Six Excellence Awards were also given to partners for their efforts in specific program areas:

· Athens-Clarke County (Ga.) Public Utilities Department, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas for Excellence in Outreach and Education

· Denver Water (Co.) for Excellence in Strategic Collaboration

· Puget Sound Energy (Wash.) for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense labeled Products