Swimming Upstream in a Dry Creek

Swimming Upstream in a Dry Creek

We have made tremendous progress in improving the quality of our surface waters in the 25 years since passage of the Clean Water Act, and similar gains are being realized in reducing water consumption. Industry, for example, has cut water use by one-third since the 1950s, even while increasing output threefold. Water conservation in and around commercial and residential buildings has not been nearly as successful, but progress is being made. Most notable are the water conservation standards for toilets, showerheads, and faucets that were implemented as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (effective in 1994).

Now there is an effort to set back that progress. . . .

Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-Michigan) introduced H.R. 859 this past March to repeal the 1.6 gallon- (6 liter-) per-flush standard for new toilets and the 2.5 gallon- (9.5 liter-) per-minute standard for new shower- heads and faucet aerators. Along with saving hundreds of millions of gallons of water per day in the U.S. and reducing aquifer depletion in the arid West, the standards are almost universally supported by manufacturers of plumbing equipment.

Knollenberg’s staff says the bill has resulted in unprecedented support—more than a thousand letters—from throughout the country. His office told

EBN that they have not received any letters in opposition to the bill. To comment on the measure, write Knollenberg at 1511 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, or call 202/225-5802, and contact your representative.

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Alex Wilson