PMI Shares Tips to Save with Water-Efficient Products & Strategies
Plumbing Manufacturers International’s Rethink Water initiative encourages selection of certified, water-efficient products that increase value while reducing water and energy bills. In accordance, PMI recently released the following tips:
Look for the WaterSense label
The easiest way to save is to look for products certified by the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program. Products include toilets, faucets, showerheads, lawn sprinkler systems and point-of-use reverse osmosis water treatment systems that remove contaminants such as lead, PFAS and bacteria. Commercial products include urinals and outdoor irrigation or sprinkler systems.
PMI member companies produce water-efficient products in a wide range of styles and prices. More than 46,000 WaterSense product models can be found online and in retail and wholesale showrooms around the world.
How to maximize water efficiency in the home
- Replace older, inefficient toilets. Studies commissioned by PMI estimate that replacing all the older, inefficient toilets with water-efficient models could save billions of gallons of water within only a few years, with the exact number depending on how many toilets replaced. Today’s water-efficient toilets have earned high consumer satisfaction ratings, according to Consumer Reports, so there is no reason to be concerned about flushing power and cleanliness. Toilets account for about 30% of the indoor water use in the average home, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Replace or upgrade faucets. Faucets account for about 15% of indoor household water use, according to the EPA. WaterSense faucets can reduce the water used at sinks by at least 20%. Some faucets may be upgraded with an aerator to be made more water efficient.
- Get a water-efficient showerhead. Showerheads use about 20% of the water in an average home, according to the EPA. Swapping out an old showerhead for a new one can save water and money while providing outstanding performance and safety. Always be surethe shower valve is sized to fit the showerhead.
- Eliminate leaks and prevent waste and damage caused by them. Look for and repair any water leaks in faucets, toilet flappers and so forth. Smart plumbing products, such as leak detectors, shut-off valves and brain pipe technology, can save water and prevent damage in case of a leak.
- Shorten the distance hot water travels. The farther the heat source — whether a water heater, a heat pump or a boiler — is located from the shower or faucet, the longer it takes the hot water to arrive. To get hot water faster and reduce waste when building or remodeling a home, consider placing the water heater close to the shower to have a shorter-pipe run. Consider:
- Smaller-diameter pipes that hold less water
- A recirculating pump to keep water hot in water pipe
- A point-of-use, on-demand heater near distant taps
- Water reuse. Newer buildings have onsite systems that capture, treat and recycle water for non-potable or outdoor uses such as toilet flushing, cooling and irrigation. These systems generally use dual plumbing systems that separate potable and non-potable water.
How to maximize water efficiency in commercial spaces
- Conduct inventory to determine flow rate of all toilets, faucets, showerheads, urinals and outdoor sprinkler systems. Any using more than current federal water-efficiency standards should be upgraded immediately.
- Switch to water-efficient valves: Replace commercial kitchen pre-rinse spray valves with water-efficient models.
- Ease pressure: Consider reducing the water pressure of the entire plumbing system.
- Cut outdoor water waste: The WaterSense label is not just for plumbing products, but also for irrigation controllers and irrigation-training programs for landscape professionals. The label identifies water-efficient products and verifies professional proficiency in water-efficient irrigation system design, installation, maintenance and performance audits.
Learn more at safeplumbing.org/rethinkwater.
