High-Efficiency
Bathroom Sink Faucet Questions
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How was the final specification
for high-efficiency faucets developed?
All WaterSense specifications are developed through a market research,
technical review and stakeholder input process. In developing the
specification, EPA collaborated with interested parties representing
industry, water utilities, and water-efficiency advocacy groups.
EPA industry and product research, as well the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A112.18.1/Canadian Standards Association
(CSA) B125.1 standard for Plumbing Supply Fittings, form the basis
for the WaterSense bathroom sink faucet specification.
What are the details of the
specification?
The WaterSense specification sets the maximum flow rate of faucets
and aerators 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). The specification 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.
Who will certify that products
meet the specification?
All WaterSense labeled, high-efficiency bathroom sink faucets and
aerators must be tested and certified by an independent, EPA-approved
licensed certifying body. Manufacturers can use the WaterSense label
in conjunction with faucets and aerators that are certified by licensed
product certifying bodies to conform to WaterSense criteria for
both performance and efficiency. Only faucets and aerators that
are certified through this process can bear the WaterSense label.
What types of products can
earn the WaterSense label under this specification?
Provided the products meet the WaterSense specification, bathroom
sink faucets and aerators (or other faucet accessories, such as
laminar flow devices) can be certified to meet EPA criteria and
labeled under this specification. This specification applies to
bathroom sink faucets or aerators 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 predetermined 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 faucet accessory?
A 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).
Aerators control flow rate either through flow restriction (narrowing
the opening through which the water is discharged from the faucet)
or flow regulation (adapting 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).
Are bathroom sink faucets that
meet the WaterSense specification more expensive than other bathroom
sink faucets?
Consumers can purchase WaterSense labeled aerators separately from
bathroom sink faucets, and can easily replace existing accessories
that do not meet the WaterSense specification.
Aerators can be purchased at retail locations and typically cost
only a few dollars. 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.
If WaterSense labeled aerators are
so easy to install, what would prevent their removal?
The water efficiency benefits of aerators, in addition to their
low cost and relative ease of installation, outweigh the risk of
their removal. Aerators typically cost no more than a few dollars,
and using WaterSense labeled faucets or aerators could reduce a
household's faucet water use by more than 500 gallons annually.
Additionally, performance is a major component of all WaterSense
specifications. The faucet specification accounts for user satisfaction
in different situations, including low water pressure, so removal
should not be a major issue.
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