Washington, D.C. (Oct. 10, 2023)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has honored the Utah Division of Water Resources with a WaterSense Excellence Award for their work promoting WaterSense and water efficiency in 2022. WaterSense recognized its Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence Award winners during the WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 5th. Utah Division of Water Resources was one of 25 Excellence Award winners.

WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by EPA, is both a label for water-efficient products, programs, and homes and a resource for helping consumers learn ways to save water. More than 2,100 manufacturers, builders, retailers, utilities, government, and nonprofit organizations partner with WaterSense to promote water-efficient products, homes, and programs.

“With extreme weather affecting water supplies and quality, saving this precious resource is more important than ever,” said Veronica Blette, Chief, WaterSense Branch. “The 2023 award winners helped Americans look to WaterSense and save not just water, but the energy required to heat and treat it, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use.”

Since 2006, over 40,000 certified water-efficient plumbing and irrigation products have helped consumers and businesses save 7.5 trillion gallons of water; the amount of energy needed to pump, treat, and heat water by 880 billion kilowatt hours; and $171 billion in water and energy bills. These savings also helped prevent 337 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to planting 5.6 billion trees.

The Utah Division of Water Resources (UDWRe) earned its first WaterSense Award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense as it helped put water-efficient devices in the hands of more customers and businesses in Utah. UDWRe’s state-wide rebate program incentivizes WaterSense-labeled toilets and weather-based irrigation controllers. In 2022, customers received rebates on nearly 900 toilets and over 3,500 controllers. Since the launch of their irrigation controller rebate program in 2018 and toilet rebate program in 2019, UDWRe has helped consumers save an estimated 342.4 million gallons of water by switching to WaterSense-labeled products. 

State-wide rebates are available due to collaboration among the UDWRe and water districts across the state. Rather than having dozens of cities and water districts all offering separate programs, Utah has one online portal that serves the entire state, UtahWaterSavers.com. The support and collaboration between the UDWRe, and the Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Weber Basin, and Washington County water conservancy districts is what makes this program a success.

To further increase awareness of WaterSense, UDWRe supports the Utah Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification program, by encouraging program participation from industry professionals, recommending homeowners hire QWEL-certified professionals, and stressing the importance of landscape irrigation audits. Residents are encouraged to participate in a landscape irrigation audit, offered throughout the state by districts, municipalities, and Utah State University’s Water Check Program.   

“We are excited to receive a 2023 WaterSense® Excellence Award. Water conservation is critical to building drought resiliency and ensuring a reliable water supply. Our programs are made possible through the work of our dedicated staff and collaboration with our exceptional partners: Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County, and Weber Basin water conservancy districts. We are dedicated to growing our programs and promoting WaterSense products to our residents.” — Candice Hasenyager, Director of the Utah Division of Water Resources

For more information about water conservation rebates and incentives in Utah, visit utahwatersavers.com.

For more information about WaterSense, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

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WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering consumers and businesses simple ways to use less water with water-efficient products, homes, and services.

For more information, contact Michael Sanchez, public information officer, at 385-226-8967 or email msanchez@utah.gov.