Ann Arbor, Mich.—NSF International has announced its participation in a new certification program designed to verify the water efficiency and performance of high-efficiency toilets, which can 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 WaterSenseSM program, which recently approved NSF’s participation in the program as an independent product certification organization.
The EPA launched the WaterSenseSM program in 2006 to focus on high-efficiency products and services designed to conserve water, one of our most precious natural resources. This voluntary labeling program is available to all companies that partner with EPA and manufacture, sell or distribute household plumbing fixtures.
NSF has been approved to certify high-efficiency toilets to the WaterSenseSM 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.
WaterSenseSM makes it easier to identify water-efficient products and practices. 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 WaterSenseSM label. In addition to authorizing the use of the label and providing the artwork, NSF will list all of its certified products on its website at www.nsf.org
During the initial phase of the WaterSenseSM program, the EPA is focusing on high-efficiency toilets. The program is expected to expand to include requirements for high-efficiency bathroom sink faucets. Future plans to expand the WaterSenseSM program may include requirements for showerheads, irrigation control equipment and other commercial equipment.
Source: NSF International
