Washington, D.C. (09/30/24)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Utah Division of Water Resources with a WaterSense Excellence Award for promoting the WaterSense brand. WaterSense honored its Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence Award winners during the WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) Conference. The division was one of 22 Excellence Award winners.

“We are delighted to receive a 2024 WaterSense® Excellence Award. The state of Utah has made a $1 billion investment to promote wise water use and better facilitate drought resiliency. Using less water in all sectors is critical to ensuring a reliable water supply.” said Candice Hasenyager, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources.  “Behind this great program are dedicated and passionate staff committed to the program’s success. In addition, we have great partners in Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County, and Weber Basin water conservancy districts. We are excited to continue to grow our programs and promote WaterSense products to our residents.”

WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the EPA, is both a label for water-efficient products 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 produce and promote water-efficient products, programs, and homes.

“More than ever, consumers and businesses are looking to conserve resources, cut costs, and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Veronica Blette, Acting Associate Director of the Water Infrastructure Division in the EPA Office of Wastewater Management. “Our WaterSense Award winners for 2024 made it easy for Americans to make water-efficient choices and find WaterSense labeled products and homes that save water, energy, and money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Since EPA launched the program in 2006, nearly 46,000 WaterSense labeled models of plumbing and irrigation products have helped consumers and businesses save 8.7 trillion gallons of water; the amount of energy needed to pump, treat, and heat water by 997 billion kilowatt hours; and $207 billion in water and energy bills. These savings also helped prevent 379 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to planting 6.3 billion trees.

Earning its second WaterSense Award, the Utah Division of Water Resources has been recognized this year for Excellence in WaterSense Promotion. The division manages a state-wide rebate program for WaterSense labeled toilets and weather-based irrigation controllers (WBICs), and in 2023, they issued nearly 600 rebates for WaterSense-labeled toilets and over 3,000 WaterSense labeled WBIC rebates. Since these incentive programs launched in 2018 and 2019, Utah has rebated more than 4,000 WaterSense-labeled toilets and nearly 30,000 WaterSense labeled WBICs!

To further increase awareness of WaterSense, the division 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.

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

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the 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.

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The Utah Division of Water Resources is one of ten divisions housed within the Department of Natural Resources. Tasked with planning, conserving, developing and protecting Utah’s water resources, the division serves as Utah’s water steward.