We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

logo
  • Engineers & Specifiers
  • Contractors & Installers
  • Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Subscription
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • HVAC
    • Hydronics/Radiant
    • Plumbing
    • PVF
    • Tools
  • PROJECTS
    • Commercial
    • Green Building
    • MRO/Retrofit
    • Remodeling
    • Residential
  • HOW TO
    • Design
    • Fire Protection
    • Legal Matters
    • Management
  • BUSINESS
    • Buying Groups
    • Technology
    • Associations
  • CODES & STANDARDS
    • ANSI
    • ASHRAE
    • ASSE
    • Regulations
    • Green Building
    • IAPMO
    • ICC
    • NFPA
  • RESOURCES
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Classifieds
    • Digital Editions
    • Behind the Wall
    • Webinars
    • AHR Live 2023
  • PODCASTS
  • DIGITAL EDITIONS
Home » U.S. Senate Passes Drinking Water Infrastructure Bill with IAPMO-Endorsed WaterSense Language

U.S. Senate Passes Drinking Water Infrastructure Bill with IAPMO-Endorsed WaterSense Language

September 21, 2016
No Comments

The U.S. Senate recently passed sweeping legislation addressing the nation’s water infrastructure, including authorization for the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense program, for which IAPMO has been an important advocate.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (S. 2848) is a comprehensive bill addressing diverse concerns, including lead contamination, sewer overflow control, water system security, drinking water conservation, and improving ports and waterways. Among its provisions, the bill will provide about $270 million in mandatory funding for the EPA and other agencies to respond to drinking water emergencies and lead exposure, support needed flood control projects that protect millions of people and billions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure, and authorize $50 million annually for grants to support the development of new technology that addresses “pressing water challenges.”

The legislation passed by a vote of 95-3. The text of S. 2848 can be found here. Of specific interest to IAPMO and the plumbing industry is Sec. 7112 of the bill, which formally establishes WaterSense, the EPA’s voluntary program that identifies and promotes water-efficient products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services that, through voluntary labeling, meet strict performance criteria related to water and energy conservation.

IAPMO and the High-Performance Buildings Coalition (HPBC), which is chaired by IAPMO’s Senior Vice

President of Government Relations Dain Hansen, have long championed WaterSense authorization on Capitol

Hill, including the successful passing of S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, in April, which also included a section authorizing WaterSense. That bill is being harmonized with similar legislation passed by the House of Representatives before it seeks President Obama’s signature.

“After years of working with Congress to officially authorize the hugely popular EPA WaterSense program, it seems we are now on the cusp of victory,” Hansen said. “With the House of Representatives already looking to vote on WRDA, and with the broad support for the provisions in the Senate version, this could be the year we see WaterSense solidified in statute.”

IAPMO R&T is a leading provider of WaterSense product certification in the nation and has been a U.S. EPA licensed provider, accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), since 2007, certifying the first high-efficiency toilet (HET) to the standard in April of that year. To date, IAPMO R&T, part of The IAPMO

Group, has certified thousands of such water-efficient products to the WaterSense specifications.

Sens. James Inhofe (R-OK) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said in a joint statement: “Once again Congress has voted with broad bipartisan support for another major infrastructure bill. Once law, WRDA 2016 will give authority for the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on 30 projects that will help grow our economy, protect communities from flooding, increase our global competitiveness, and restore our natural treasures. This bill also provides critical support and reforms to help small and disadvantaged communities improve access to clean and safe drinking water and to repair aging infrastructure that contributes to lead contamination nationwide. A critical component of the bill is that we specifically addressed the long-standing lead contamination in Flint. We appreciate our colleagues in the Senate for working collaboratively and around the clock to get this bill passed.”

For more information on the legislation, contact Hansen at (202) 445-7514 or dain.hansen@iapmo.org.

Contractors & Installers Engineers & Specifiers IAPMO Industry Community News Infrastructure Plumbing Regulations Water Conservation Water Quality Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Related Articles

    PMI Applauds Senate on Passage of Bill Calling for WaterSense Authorization, Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements

    PMI Applauds Preservation of WaterSense, Increased Water Infrastructure Funding in Senate FY20 Interior-EPA Budget Bill

    PMI-supported WaterSense Amendment passes U.S. Senate as part of energy bill

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular

  • Chicago Plumber’s Union Dyes Chicago River Green for St. Patrick’s Day 2023

  • Everything You Wanted to Know About Orangeburg Pipe (But Were Afraid To Ask)

  • Vote Now! Plumbing Design of the Year: A Readers’ Choice Award

  • The Basis for Most Plumbing Codes

Featured Video

General wire march vid

Gen-Eye X-POD Plus Testimonial - Michael Williams, Just Drains LLC

Industry Events

  • 21Mar

    NFMT 2023

    Baltimore, MD
  • 26Mar

    MCAA 2023 Annual Convention

    Phoenix, AZ
  • 29Mar

    2023 SFPE European Conference & Expo

    Berlin ,
More Events

Subscribe to our newsletters & stay updated

Subscribe & Learn More

  • Tw03 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Pe03 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Phc03 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Es 2022
    Learn More
Subscribe

More from PHCP Pros

  • Editorial Team
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise

Follow Us

© 2023 All Rights Reserved

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development | ePublishing