Washington, DC – This week, the House of Representatives passed S. 3021, America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which includes a provision authored by Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) to permanently authorize the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) existing WaterSense program.
Similar to the EnergyStar program for electrical appliances, the WaterSense program makes it easy to find products that conserve water by clearly labeling them as water efficient. It sets voluntary technical standards for water appliances such as toilets, showerheads, and landscape irrigation systems that are at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance. Upgrading to WaterSense labeled products saves billions of gallons of water and reduces the amount of energy used in our country each year.
“I’m pleased the practical water saving legislation that I introduced was included in this critical water infrastructure bill,” said Congressman McNerney. “The WaterSense program is a commonsense public-private partnership that benefits both consumers and small businesses. This is a vital resource that helps Americans identify water-efficient products so they can make informed choices and save money.”
The bipartisan water infrastructure bill will improve drinking water quality and provide significant funding for state and local governments to make much-needed upgrades to their drinking water infrastructure. The bill also reauthorizes the Safe Drinking Water Act for the first time in 20 years. As a longtime advocate for investment in American infrastructure – particularly the modernization of our water systems – the Congressman has supported these efforts throughout his time in Congress.
Rep. Jerry McNerney proudly serves the constituents of California’s 9th Congressional District that includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento Counties.
