United States WaterSense – In December 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the WaterSense program as part of their Sustainable Infrastructure Program. The EPA is authorised to establish such a program under Sections 104 and 140 of the Clean Water Act 1972 and Section 1442 of the Safe Drinking Water Act 1974. The mission of the WaterSense program is to the future of the nation’s water supply by ‘protect promoting and enhancing the market for water efficient products and services’. The program also aims to establish public–private partnerships to encourage water conservation among manufacturers, developers and consumers. The WaterSense program is multifaceted in that it: provides information to consumers and businesses on water-efficient, high performing products, homes and practices educates consumers on the importance of water efficiency ensures water-efficient product performance promotes innovation in product development holds certification programs for services (i.e. irrigation professionals) offers a water efficiency labelling scheme. With regards to labelling, manufacturers that receive the label from approved and licensed certifying bodies may only share it with retailers, distributors and wholesalers for promotional purposes (Figure 33). Figure 33. United States WaterSense Source: EPA 2015. There is an initial fee for manufacturers that wish to obtain product certification and certifying bodies monitor label use through annual product surveillance such as retail outlet, facility, warehouse audits and product retesting. The EPA is responsible for compliance monitoring and enforcement. China Water Conservation Certificate – The China Water Conservation Certification (CWCC) label is available to a broad range of products (62 different categories in total). Some of these categories include industry (e.g. cooling towers and automatic filters), agriculture (e.g. irrigation equipment) and residential (e.g. taps and showerheads). Conformity with the CWCC standards is managed by the China Energy Conservation Product Certification Centre. Certification is voluntary and aims to encourage the innovation of more water efficient products while ensuring consumers have information to make more sustainable purchase decisions.
United States – WaterSense In December 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the WaterSense program as part of their Sustainable Infrastructure Program. The EPA is authorised to establish such a program under Sections 104 and 140 of the Clean Water Act 1972 and Section 1442 of the Safe Drinking Water Act 1974. The mission of the WaterSense program is to ‘protect the future of the nation’s water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water efficient products and services’. The program also aims to establish public–private partnerships to encourage water conservation among manufacturers, developers and consumers. The WaterSense program is multifaceted in that it: provides information to consumers and businesses on water-efficient, high performing products, homes and practices educates consumers on the importance of water efficiency ensures water-efficient product performance promotes innovation in product development holds certification programs for services (i.e. irrigation professionals) offers a water efficiency labelling scheme. With regards to labelling, manufacturers that receive the label from approved and licensed certifying bodies may only share it with retailers, distributors and wholesalers for promotional purposes (Figure 33). Figure 33. United States WaterSense Source: EPA 2015. There is an initial fee for manufacturers that wish to obtain product certification and certifying bodies monitor label use through annual product surveillance such as retail outlet, facility, warehouse audits and product retesting. The EPA is responsible for compliance monitoring and enforcement. China – Water Conservation Certificate The China Water Conservation Certification (CWCC) label is available to a broad range of products (62 different categories in total). Some of these categories include industry (e.g. cooling towers and automatic filters), agriculture (e.g. irrigation equipment) and residential (e.g. taps and showerheads). Conformity with the CWCC standards is managed by the China Energy Conservation Product Certification Centre. Certification is voluntary and aims to encourage the innovation of more water efficient products while ensuring consumers have information to make more sustainable purchase decisions.