Alameda County Water District Wins 2024 WaterSense® Excellence Award by Alameda County Water District Oct 7, 2024 Member Submitted News The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Alameda County Water District with a WaterSense Excellence Award for promoting WaterSense labeled products, marking the third time the District has received this esteemed recognition. WaterSense honored its Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence Award winners during the WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) Conference in Las Vegas on September 26. ACWD was one of 22 Excellence Award winners. 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. WaterSense recognized ACWD for its water conservation achievements in 2023. The District encouraged customers to save water in the garden by hosting landscape workshops featuring water-efficient practices and issuing rebates for WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controllers and sprinkler spray bodies. The District encouraged indoor water use efficiency through its promotional partnership with the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity’s Green House Call program, which distributed WaterSense labeled showerheads and kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators to nearly 100 homes. In addition to water-saving devices, ACWD provides its customers with information on finding and fixing leaks through an online portal. “I am honored the Alameda County Water District has received its third Excellence Award,” said ACWD Board President Jim Gunther. “Our WaterSense partnership emphasizes our commitment to equipping customers with resources to achieve their conservation goals. A WaterSense label makes it easier to be efficient by simplifying product selection, ensuring customers receive equipment that has been fully vetted and meets high standards,” added Gunther. For more information about ACWD’s water use efficiency program, rebates and ways to save water, visit acwd.org/conserve. For more information about WaterSense, visit epa.gov/WaterSense.
