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On February 8, 1999, Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
reintroduced his bill to repeal national efficiency standards for
plumbing products. The new bill, H.R. 623, had 38 cosponsors: 34
Republicans and 4 Democrats. All of the cosponsors Below is a position statement in support of national standards endorsed by 24 organizations, including plumbing manufacturers, water and wastewater utilities, and environmental groups.
Position Statement on National Water Efficiency Standards February 1999
The drought now affecting several portions of the United States serves to underscore the need to make more efficient use of our water supplies. Even where water is not scarce, efficient plumbing products help consumers and communities hold down the rising costs of additional water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure. Saving water also reduces the energy required to pump, heat, and treat water throughout the nation. With over half of all indoor residential water use taking place in the bathroom, improved water efficiency in new toilets is central to most water conservation efforts. Several different technologies are employed in the latest generation of water-efficient toilets on the market today. Numerous reports have shown that the great majority of homeowners who have been surveyed are satisfied with the performance of these new toilets. Leading national consumer publications have highlighted many brands and models that meet their performance tests, and utilities that promote the installation of water-efficient toilets have received few complaints. The rigors of the marketplace will drive even further improvements in the performance of plumbing products. However, the regulatory stability provided by current Federal law is very important to the U.S. plumbing industry. It allows businesses to bring improved products to a national market, rather than spend time and money designing products for differing flush volumes, flow rates, test procedures, certification requirements, and labeling rules, all of which could vary by state and local jurisdiction if Federal standards were repealed. Economies of scale -- an important factor in keeping costs to consumers low -- could be lost if this national market were to become fragmented. Our message is straightforward: efficient plumbing products work, and efficient water use is an important national concern.
For additional information about this issue, please contact Patrick C. O'Connor of the American Supply Association at 202-223-6222 or Pocatko@aol.com, or any of the above-listed organizations , or visit the links below.
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were Members who had
previously cosponsored the same bill in the last Congress. There were
seven members (all Republicans) of the House Commerce Committee who
cosponsored the new bill, including Joe Barton (TX), the new Chair of
the Energy & Power Subcommittee. (
The undersigned companies, organizations, and
public agencies reaffirm our support for maintaining
national standards for the water use efficiency of
new plumbing products, as provided by current Federal
law. From diverse perspectives, we each have come to
support this approach to reducing the costs of
providing safe drinking water, treating municipal
wastewater, and protecting our rivers, lakes,
estuaries, and wetlands.
