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Water Headlines for February 22, 2007Benjamin H. Grumbles Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water. In This Week’s Water Headlines:
EPA Cultivates Water-Efficient LandscapesJust in time for the spring gardening season, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing its first WaterSense label for landscape irrigation. As part of the agency’s new water-efficiency partnership program, two certification programs for landscape irrigation professionals received the WaterSense label for their adherence to water-saving techniques. "Landscapes can use less water and still be beautiful and healthy," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "WaterSense irrigation partners can help you find the solution that makes sense for your lawn or garden-as well as your wallet and the environment." The first WaterSense label has been issued to the Irrigation Association’s (IA) Certified Irrigation Designer program and Certified Irrigation Contractor program. To earn the WaterSense label, IA’s certification programs must test for the ability to design, install and maintain water-efficient landscape irrigation systems, including tailoring systems to the surrounding landscape, selecting water-efficient equipment, tracking local climate conditions, and developing appropriate schedules for watering. IA’s certified irrigation contractors and certified irrigation designers are now eligible to become WaterSense partners and may use the WaterSense partner logo to promote their water-efficient landscape and irrigation services to consumers. EPA is inviting professionals through these programs who share a commitment to water efficiency to become partners and help consumers save water and money while maintaining their yards. WaterSense is a voluntary public-private partnership that identifies and promotes high-performance products and programs that help preserve the nation’s water supply. The WaterSense program seeks to generate support for consumer use of water-efficient products such as high-efficiency toilets, water-saving faucets, and, in the future, weather-based controllers and soil moisture sensors for lawns and gardens. More information: Basic Course in Anchorage, AK starting next weekThe Office of Science and Technology and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation are presenting the Water Quality Standards Academy: Basic Course in Anchorage, AK the week of February 26 - March 2, 2007. This course is a comprehensive and highly structured course that introduces students to all aspects of the Water Quality Standards program, and is designed for those with less than six months experience with standards and criteria. Over 50 participants representing EPA, the State of Alaska, other federal agencies and the regulated and environmental communities are registered to attend. For further information on the Water Quality Standards Academy, please go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/academy.html or contact Tom Gardner at 202-566-0386 or Bryan "Ibrahim" Goodwin at 202-566-0762. Administration Presses for Marine Environment Protection in Wider CaribbeanThis week President Bush transmitted to the U.S. Senate for its advice and consent for ratification, the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (”Protocol”) to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (1983 Cartagena Convention). Through this important milestone, the U.S. continues to demonstrate important leadership on dealing with challenging forms of marine pollution, such as domestic wastewater and excess nutrients from non-point sources, which threaten the health of sensitive coral reefs and important commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and portions of the Atlantic Ocean. The Protocol will encourage 28 other countries and 18 territories to accelerate prevention and reduction of harmful marine pollutants and raise wastewater treatment standards throughout the region to levels already in place in the U.S. The Cartagena Convention enforces legal obligation to protect the Wilder Caribbean Region which includes the Gulf of Mexico, Straits of Florida, Caribbean Sea, and immediately adjacent areas of the Atlantic Oceans. Up to 90% of pollution that enters the marine originates from land-based sources and activities. This is the first regional agreement to establish standards for marine protection. The Parties agreed to a list of priority source categories, activities, and associated contaminants that affect the Wider Caribbean Region to facilitate prevention, reduction, and control strategies in managing land-based sources of pollution. These standards will further align Regional efforts to treat domestic wastewater with U.S. standards. Water Efficiency FactoidDid you know that bathroom sink faucets account for more than 15 percent of indoor household water use-more than 1 trillion gallons of water across the United States each year? In the near future, bathroom sink faucets will be eligible for the WaterSense label. On February 8, 2007 the WaterSense program released the draft specification for bathroom sink faucets. The draft specification will be open for review and comment through March 23, 2007. EPA will accept written comments and hold a public meeting via a telephone conference call on March 1 to discuss stakeholder comments. Following the comment period, EPA will make any necessary revisions to the certification criteria, publish the final specification, and allow manufacturers to begin to certify and label their products. Please review the fact sheet on high-efficiency bathroom sink faucets at http://epa.gov/watersense/pubs/bathroom_faucets.htm for more information on how we can reduce water use in the home. Subscribe to Water HeadlinesPlease forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA’s Office of Water. To subscribe to the Water Headlines listserve: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe Water Headlines first name last name (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use your actual name- i.e. Subscribe Water Headlines Robert Jones)
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