Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

DENVER  – Today, September 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized three organizations in Region 8 -  the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District; the Kearns, Utah Water Improvement District; and the Utah Division of Water Resources -  with WaterSense®  awards.  These winners were among 51 awards presented to water utilities, government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, builders, and other organizations at the WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) conference in Las Vegas for their support of EPA’s WaterSense® program.

Today's winners, along with more than 2,100 other organizations, produced and promoted WaterSense® labeled products, homes, and programs that helped save nearly 1.2 trillion gallons of water last year. At the same time, these water savings helped more efficiently use energy to pump, treat, deliver, and heat water. WaterSense® is a voluntary program that helps consumers and businesses easily identify water-saving plumbing and irrigation products, homes, and professional certification programs.

“I am excited that EPA is recognizing these WaterSense award winners who are helping protect our water resources while improving energy efficiency, saving customers’ money, and advancing efforts to manage climate change impacts like water scarcity and drought,” said EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Since 2006, EPA’s innovative WaterSense Program has saved 8.7 trillion gallons of water, 997 billion kilowatt-hours of energy, and $207 billion in water and energy bills!”

This year’s award winners manufactured innovative water-efficient products, built homes using 30% less water than typical new construction, made WaterSense labeled products accessible and affordable for consumers, and implemented creative programs that promote water-saving actions and fixtures.

2024 Sustained Excellence Award Winners

The Sustained Excellence Awards are the highest level of achievement for WaterSense and recognized partners who continue to support the program and promote water efficiency:

• Athens-Clarke County (Georgia) Public Utilities Department
• Big Bear Lake (California) Department of Water and Power
• Citrus County (Florida) Utilities
• City of Charlottesville (Virginia)
• City of Durham (North Carolina) Water Management
• City of Plano (Texas)
• City of Sacramento (California) Department of Utilities
• Fulton Homes
• Harris-Galveston (Texas) Subsidence District
• Irvine Ranch (California) Water District
• KB Home
• Kohler Co.
• Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
• Niagara®
• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Sonoma-Marin (California) Saving Water Partnership (two awards, for promotion and certification programs)
• The Home Depot
• Upper San Gabriel Valley (California) Municipal Water District

2024 WaterSense Partners of the Year

The following organizations received Partner of the Year Awards for demonstrating outstanding education and outreach; strategic collaboration; and promotion of WaterSense labeled products:

• Broward County (Florida) Government
• City of Bend (Oregon)
• City of Flagstaff (Arizona)
• City of Round Rock (Texas)
• East Bay Municipal Utility District (California)
• Monte Vista (California) Water District
• Moulton Nigel (California) Water District
• Rancho California Water District
• Santa Clara Valley (California) Water District
• Tarrant (Texas) Regional Water District

2024 Excellence Award Winners

Excellence Awards recognize WaterSense partners who have excelled in a specific program area: 

• Excellence in Education and Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products: Marin (California) Municipal Water District
• Excellence in Strategic Collaboration: Alliance for Water Efficiency, G3 Green Gardens Group (Los Angeles)
• Excellence in Education and Outreach: Arlington (Texas) Water Utilities, City of Lakeland (Florida) Water Utilities, City of Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), Cobb County (Georgia) Water System, County of Kaua‘i (Hawaii) Department of Water, Hilton Head (South Carolina) Public Service District, Kearns (Utah) Improvement District, SCV (Santa Clarita Valley, California) Water
• Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products: Alameda County (California) Water District, California Water Service Company, City of Tucson (Arizona)/Tucson Water, JEA (Jacksonville, Florida), Medford (Oregon) Water Commission, Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), Veolia North America (Massachusetts)
• Excellence in Certification Program Growth: California Water Efficiency Partnership, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Excellence in New Builder Partnership: Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
• Excellence in Promoting WaterSense: Utah Division of Water Resources

Background

WaterSense seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by offering Americans a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, homes, and services. WaterSense labeled products are independently certified to use less water and perform as well or better than standard models. The program was launched in 2006, and there are nearly 46,000 models of labeled toilets, urinals, faucets/faucet accessories, showerheads, irrigation controllers, and spray sprinkler bodies. WaterSense also provides guidance and tips on how to use water more efficiently.

Learn more about the 2024 WaterSense Award winners.