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Water Headlines for October 1, 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:
Bathroom Sink Faucets To Bear WaterSense LabelConsumers will soon be able to identify high-performance, water-efficient sink faucets for their bathrooms now that EPA has released a product specification for ones that use about 30 percent less water than conventional models. "EPA's WaterSense program just made it easier for consumers and communities to save money, energy, and water one tap at a time," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "Water efficiency is the wave of the future and WaterSense bathroom faucets will turn a trickle into a stream of savings without sacrificing performance." In order to earn the WaterSense label, faucets must be independently tested and certified by a licensed certifying body to meet EPA’s water-efficiency and performance criteria. To meet the criteria, faucets and accessories such as aerators cannot flow at a rate of more than 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm), or less than 0.8 gpm. Working with stakeholders, EPA chose a rate that ensures both water savings and that the faucet flow rate will continue to meet the needs of the user. WaterSense labeled faucets not only save water, but the have the added benefit of saving energy used to treat, pump, and heat water. In fact, letting your faucet run for 5 minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. Consumers can already find the WaterSense label on more than 60 high-efficiency toilets. WaterSense labeled toilets use 20 percent less water than standard models and are independently tested and certified to perform as well as or better than their market counterparts. Working with EPA, retailers are starting to feature WaterSense labeled toilets in their plumbing sections, and bathroom sink faucets should be close behind in 2008. Bathrooms are, by far, the largest use of water in the home—responsible for about half of total indoor water use. By installing a WaterSense labeled high-efficiency toilet and faucet or aerator, American homes can save more than 11,000 gallons each year. WaterSense, an EPA partnership program launched in 2006, seeks to enhance the market for water-efficient products and services by building a national brand for water efficiency. For more information and a list of WaterSense labeled plumbing products: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/specs/faucet_final.htm. Forest Service and EPA Increase Coordination to Improve Water QualityThe U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have agreed on new steps designed to improve water quality on National Forests and Grasslands. On Friday, September 28, Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell and EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin Grumbles signed a Memorandum of Agreement that enables both agencies to increase coordinated efforts to manage, protect, and restore the health of the Nation’s water resources. "This agreement highlights the benefits that can be created when federal agencies acknowledge a shared vision and come together to work toward a common goal," said Kimbell. "By combining the organizational strengths and capabilities of the Forest Service with EPA's Office of Water, we are leveraging the best assets of both agencies to improve water quality on national forest lands." "Healthy forests need clean water, and clean water needs healthy forests," said Grumbles. "This EPA-Forest Service agreement is a blueprint for protecting America’s watersheds on national forests and grasslands." More than 60 million Americans get their water from sources on the National Forests in addition to municipal water supplies. Watersheds play an important role in supporting aquatic species and biodiversity and provide recreational opportunities to millions of visitors each year. Data shows that approximately eight percent of all water quality impairments nationally are located on National Forest System lands. Leading causes of these impairments include elevated temperatures, excess sediment, and habitat modification. This agreement identifies areas in which the Forest Service and EPA will increase coordination of activities and cooperation with states, territories and tribes to address water quality impairments on National Forest System lands and accelerate attainment of water quality standards.
More information can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/biology/ EPA Strengthens Lead in Drinking Water RuleOn Tuesday, September 25, EPA issued a final rule that will improve requirements in the areas of monitoring, customer awareness and lead service line replacement. Specifically, the agency will require water suppliers to provide consumers with information to help them make decisions about how to limit their exposure to lead in drinking water. "This action will help get the lead out and keep it out of our drinking water," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water. "The public must have confidence in the safety of their tap water, which is, ounce-for-ounce, one of America's greatest and most affordable assets. EPA's targeted improvements will clarify requirements for utilities, and provide more timely and useful information for the public." The final rule is one outcome of EPA’s March 2005 Drinking Water Lead Reduction Plan which arose from EPA's analysis of the current regulation and state and local implementation. Since release of the plan, the agency has released guidance to help public water systems better understand the potential impacts of treatment changes on their ability to control lead and asked the National Drinking Water Advisory Council to provide recommendations on public education requirements. The agency has also provided new or updated guidance and tools to help schools and child care facilities to monitor for lead in drinking water. Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around homes. Even at low levels, lead may cause a range of health effects including behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Children six years old and under are most at risk because this is when the brain is developing. The primary source of lead exposure for most children is lead-based paint in older homes. Lead in drinking water can add to that exposure.
Copy of the rule and more information on lead in drinking water: New Tools for Reducing Nitrogen & Phosphorus PollutionOW is rolling out several new tools to help fight "nutrient pollution" (high loadings of nitrogen and phosphorus) into our waters. Our redesigned Nitrogen and Phosphorus web site (www.epa.gov/waterscience/nutrients/) now houses scientific literature reviews, monitoring data, guidance manuals, and webcasts to help states establish numeric water quality criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus. The new web site also offers answers to states' questions about how to use the criteria and a clearinghouse of water treatment technologies and land-use practices. The public can also visit the web site to learn more about this environmental problem and find out what each of us can do about it. 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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