Standards & schemes
US Environmental Protection Agency
In brief
WaterSense is the US Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary water-efficiency label, created under the Clean Water Act framework. It works like ENERGY STAR does for energy: EPA sets product-category specifications — for toilets, showerheads, faucets, irrigation controllers and homes, among others — requiring both reduced water use and performance that meets or exceeds standard criteria, so "efficient" cannot mean "doesn't work." Products are certified by EPA-licensed third-party certifying bodies, and the certified product list is public. Because WaterSense is a federal label with statutory standing, its specifications are frequently referenced in US plumbing codes, rebate programmes and procurement rules. EPA updates specifications as technology shifts, and has sunset categories where federal standards caught up with efficiency levels — evidence that the label tracks genuine leadership rather than incumbency. WaterSense-labelled new homes certify the whole building's water efficiency through third-party inspection. The label certifies the specific product model against the current category specification; it does not by itself attest to a whole product line or brand, and claims expire if specifications tighten and certification lapses.
Conditional relationships
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
Recognition & legal context
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