Plumbing Manufacturers International Applauds the Senate’s Passage of America’s Water Infrastructure Act Including WaterSense Authorization

Washington, D.C. – Oct. 11, 2018 – Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) today applauds the Senate for passing the bipartisan America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (S. 3021), which includes a PMI-supported provision to authorize the EPA’s successful WaterSense program, as well as funding to modernize the nation’s drinking water infrastructure.

With the House having passed this legislation on Sept. 13, the measure is now headed to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature.

“Gaining congressional approval for WaterSense authorization is an achievement PMI, our members and our coalition partners have steadfastly worked toward for many years,” said PMI’s CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole. “Authorization will provide certainty to the WaterSense program and its partners. It’s great to have the finish line in our sights.”

PMI applauds and recognizes the following senators for their leadership and long-standing support of WaterSense authorization legislation: Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Tom Carper (D-Del.), committee ranking member; John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).

Over the past few weeks, PMI actively engaged with key stakeholders in support of the WaterSense authorization language included in the bill. More than 1,700 WaterSense partners participate in the public-private program, including manufacturers, water utilities, building groups, retailers, associations and communities all dedicated to better water efficiency in the U.S. Since the program began in 2006, plumbing manufacturers have developed more than 27,000 models of WaterSense-labeled products, including showerheads, toilets, urinals, faucets, faucet accessories, and commercial pre-rinse sprays.

Products earning the WaterSense label have been certified as meeting high performance standards while being at least 20 percent more water efficient than other products meeting federal standards in the same category. Over the past decade, WaterSense products have helped consumers save more than 2.1 trillion gallons of water and over $14.2 billion in water and energy bills.

About Plumbing Manufacturers International

Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) is the voluntary, not-for-profit international industry association of manufacturers of plumbing products, serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member companies produce 90 percent of the United States’ plumbing products. As part of its mission, PMI advocates for plumbing product performance and innovation contributing to water efficiency and savings, sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer satisfaction. PMI’s members are industry leaders in producing safe, reliable and innovative water-efficient plumbing technologies. PMI members manufacture water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads and other products at more than 70 locations across the country and market them online and in home improvement stores, hardware stores and showrooms in all 50 states. For more information on PMI, contact the organization at 1750 Tysons Blvd., Ste. 1500, McLean, Va., 22102; tel.: 847-481-5500; fax: 847-481-5501. www.safeplumbing.org.

Media contact: Ray Valek, ray@valekco.com, 708-352-8695