EPA Releases New WaterSense

Environmental Protection Agency

The Irrigation Association (IA) has announced the release of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense New Home Specification (version 1.1), a program that enables new single-family homes to qualify for the WaterSense label.

In the previous version, released in December 2009, there were two options available: adhere to a water budget tool or restrict the use of turfgrass to 40 percent of the landscapable area.

However the recent announcement of the new version, which will go into effect on January 1st 2013 only requires that builders adhere to the water budget tool. It also expands the scope of the specification to include multi-family buildings in addition to single-family homes and townhomes.

The IA applauds the removal of the 40 percent turfgrass restriction from the single-family new home specification. WaterSense's announcement culminates several years of the Irrigation Association's efforts to remove this option from the new homes specification.

John Farner, Government Affairs Director, Irrigation Association said, ''We have been working with WaterSense for several years in order to develop a specification that supports the irrigation industry. We are excited to continue our partnership and support WaterSense-labeled products, irrigation professionals and programs.''

For more information about the EPA's WaterSense program please click here.

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