WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 9, 2014 -- During the WaterSmart Innovations Conference today in Las Vegas, Nev., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the 2014 WaterSense Partners of the Year for their commitment to promoting water efficiency and strengthening the drought resiliency of communities across the country.
The 2014 WaterSense Partners of the Year winners, along with more than 1,500 other WaterSense partners, have helped American consumers save 757 billion gallons of water -- enough to supply all of the homes in the U.S. with water for 26 days -- since 2006. WaterSense partners' combined efforts have resulted in a $14.2-billion reduction in consumer water and energy bills over the past eight years and a reduction of 37 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs).
"As the United States experiences the driest conditions in more than a decade, there has never been a more important time for EPA and WaterSense to focus on water efficiency. We are working to find ways to further reduce water consumption to support healthy ecosystems and communities," said Ken Kopocis, deputy assistant administrator in EPA's Office of Water.
"EPA is pleased to honor an impressive group of WaterSense program leaders," he said, "whose efforts to build strong, resilient water systems are helping communities nationwide meet challenges of extreme weather, drought and other effects of our changing climate."
Building on the important work of the WaterSense program, and as part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, EPA and WaterSense partners are continuing to find ways to enhance water efficiency. Improving water efficiency helps communities to save water, save energy and reduce GGEs.
EPA's WaterSense program seeks to protect the nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products and services. By encouraging people to use less water now, these partners are helping to ensure we have clean and safe water supplies in the future.
See also: "Doing more with less water: First WaterSense 'Partners of the Year' announced"
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