Frequently
Asked Questions: WaterSense Labeled High-Efficiency Lavatory (Bathroom
Sink) Faucet Specification
How did WaterSense set the specification for high-efficiency lavatory
(bathroom sink) faucets?
EPA product industry and product research, as well as the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A112.18.1/Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) B125.1 standard for Plumbing Supply Fittings,
form the basis of the WaterSense lavatoryor bathroom sinkspecification.
In developing the specification, EPA collaborated with interested
parties representing industry, water utilities, and water-efficiency
advocacy groups. The WaterSense lavatory faucet specification sets
the maximum flow rate of lavatory faucets and faucet accessories
at 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) tested at a flowing pressure of
60 pounds per square inch (psi) (common water pressure in most households).
It also includes a minimum flow rate of 0.8 gpm tested at a flowing
pressure of 20 psi to ensure performance across a variety of different
household conditions.
What types of products can earn the WaterSense label under the
High-Efficiency Lavatory Faucet Specification?
Provided the products meet the WaterSense specification, lavatory
faucets (i.e., bathroom sink faucets) and lavatory faucet accessories
(e.g., aerators, laminar flow devices) can be certified to meet
EPA criteria labeled under this specification. This specification
applies to bathroom sink faucets or faucet accessories intended
for private use, such as in residences or in private restrooms in
hotels and hospitals. Faucets that are not eligible to earn the
WaterSense label under this specification include metering faucets
(those that dispense a pre-determined volume of water or operate
in the "on" position for a pre-determined period of time);
bathroom sink faucets intended for public use (those found in office
buildings, restaurants, airports, and stadium restrooms, etc.);
and residential kitchen sink faucets.
What is a lavatory faucet accessory?
A lavatory faucet accessory is a device that can be added to or
removed from a bathroom sink faucet (typically, it screws onto the
tip of the faucet spout). Faucet accessories frequently serve as
the flow control mechanism that determines if a faucet meets the
minimum and maximum flow rate requirements of the WaterSense specification.
Faucet accessories control flow rate either through flow restrictionnarrowing
the opening through which the water is discharged from the faucetor
flow regulationadapting the width of the opening through which
the water is discharged from the faucet based upon fluctuations
in water pressure to maintain a constant flow rate. Faucet accessories
include:
- Aeratorsadd air into the water stream to increase the
sensation of flow (this is the most common type of accessory).
- Laminar flow devicesforce the water through small openings
to produce dozens of parallel water streams, creating a more uniform
flow and potentially reducing splash.
- Other types of flow restrictorscontrol flow through means
other than aerating the water stream or creating laminar flow.
- Other types of flow regulatorscontrol flow through means
other than aerating the water stream or creating laminar flow,
but also compensate for changes in water pressure.
Consumers can purchase faucet accessories separately from bathroom
sink faucets, and can easily replace existing accessories that do
not meet the WaterSense specification. Faucet accessories can be
purchased at retail locations and typically cost only a few dollars.
Are bathroom sink faucets that meet the WaterSense specification
more expensive than other bathroom sink faucets?
Most bathroom sink faucets on the market today control flow rate
with a faucet accessory, thus, adapting new bathroom sink faucets
to meet the requirements of the specification can be as simple as
switching to a high-efficiency faucet accessory. Most high-efficiency
faucet accessories that restrict flow are no more expensive that
their conventional counterparts. However, pressure-compensating
faucet accessories that are designed to provide and maintain a constant
flow rate despite fluctuations in water pressure typically cost
a few dollars more.
How much water will I save by replacing my faucets with WaterSense
labeled faucets or faucet accessories?
WaterSense anticipates that bathroom sink faucets and faucet accessories
with maximum flow rates of 1.5 gpm, as well as certain 1.0 gpm pressure-compensating
faucets and faucet accessories, will meet the requirements of the
specification. A high-efficiency bathroom sink faucet flowing at
1.5 gpm can reduce flow rate by 32 percent over a traditional faucet
with a maximum flow rate of 2.2 gpm. A faucet flowing at 1.0 gpm
can reduce flow rate by 45 percent over a traditional faucet with
a maximum flow rate of 2.2 gpm.
Retrofit studies conducted in Seattle, Washington, and East Bay
Municipal Utility District in California have shown that a household
can save approximately 570 gallons per year by simply replacing
existing bathroom sink faucet aerators with high-efficiency 1.5
gpm aerators.
How does the specification ensure I will be satisfied with my
faucet's performance?
User satisfaction is very subjective. WaterSense selected this
specification's maximum and minimum flow rates with user satisfaction
and water efficiency as its top two goals. Reducing the maximum
flow rate from the current federal standard of 2.2 gpm to 1.5 gpm
ensures both increased water savings and that the faucet flow rate
will continue to meet the needs of the user. According to faucet
manufacturers and industry experts, reducing a faucet's maximum
flow rate from 2.2 gpm to 1.5 gpm is not very noticeable for most
users in most situations. In general, the most noticeable difference
may be increased wait times when filling the basin or waiting for
hot water. By including a minimum flow rate of 0.8 gpm (tested at
a flowing pressure of 20 psi), WaterSense ensures that user satisfaction
in areas with low water pressure, such as in homes with private
wells, will not be significantly impacted.
How does the WaterSense specification ensure that my faucet will
perform as it is expected?
To earn the WaterSense label, all faucets and faucet accessories
must comply with all the current industry standards regarding quality
of materials and performance. In addition to these industry standards,
all WaterSense labeled products must be independently certified
by a third party licensed product certifying body to confirm that
the product meets WaterSense criteria for efficiency and performance.
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