WaterSense Awards

WaterSense partners contribute to the program's success by enhancing the market for water–efficient products, practices, and services.  Each year WaterSense recognizes those partners who have gone above and beyond in supporting WaterSense.  The winners are typically announced at a Partner of the Year awards luncheon at the annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

2024 WaterSense Partners of the Year

On September 26, 2024, the 2023 WaterSense Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence Award winners were announced during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference. WaterSense and its more than 2,000 utility, manufacturer, retail, builder, and other organizational partners make it possible for consumers and businesses to save water, energy, and money by producing and promoting water-efficient products, homes, and programs. Since 2006, WaterSense partners have helped save 8.7 trillion gallons of water and $207 billion on consumer utility bills.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to recognize 19 Sustained Excellence Award winners, 10 Partner of the Year Award winners, and 22 Excellence Award winners for their support of WaterSense and water efficiency in 2023 and contributing to annual savings of 1.2 trillion gallons of water!

2024 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award Winners:

• Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department
• Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power
• Citrus County Utilities
• City of Charlottesville
• City of Durham Water Management 
• City of Plano
• City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
• Fulton Homes
• Harris-Galveston Subsidence District
• Irvine Ranch Water District
• KB Home
• Kohler Co.
• Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
• Niagara®
• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership
• Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (for Promotion)
• The Home Depot
• Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

2024 WaterSense Partners of the Year:

• Broward County Government
• City of Bend
• City of Flagstaff
• City of Round Rock
• East Bay Municipal Utility District
• Monte Vista Water District
• Moulton Niguel Water District
• Rancho California Water District
• Santa Clara Valley Water District
• Tarrant Regional Water District

2024 WaterSense Excellence Award Winners:

• Arlington Water Utilities
• City of Lakeland Water Utilities
• City of Oklahoma City
• Cobb County Water System
• Department of Water, County of Kaua‘i
• Hilton Head Public Service District
• Kearns Improvement District
• SCV Water
• Alameda County Water District
• California Water Service Company
• City of Tucson/Tucson Water
• JEA
• Medford Water Commission
• Metropolitan Council
• Veolia North America
• Alliance for Water Efficiency
• G3, Green Gardens Group
• California Water Efficiency Partnership
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
• Marin Municipal Water District
• Utah Division of Water Resources

Learn more about:

• WaterSense 2024 Sustained Excellence Awards (pdf) (15.2 MB)
• WaterSense 2024 Partner of the Year Awards (pdf) (6.79 MB)
• WaterSense 2024 Excellence Awards (pdf) (10.55 MB)
• October 2024 webinar featuring nine award-winning partners
• Award winners from previous years

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2024 Sustained Excellence Award Winners

Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department

Athens-Clarke County (Georgia) Public Utilities Department’s Water Conservation Office (WCO) earned its eighth Sustained Excellence Award thanks to their engaging water conservation outreach efforts. In 2023, over 400 people attended the Annual Ripple Effect Blue Carpet Premiere that featured 25 water-themed films from local K-12 student filmmakers. At the event, audience members learned about WaterSense and the importance of fixing leaks. The ripple reached all the way to New York City, where the 2023 winning films were shown at the World Water Film Festival to kick off a gathering of 440 organizations attending the United Nations Water Conference.

The WCO distributed free dye tablets and also created a unique “Ode to the Commode” poem that encouraged customers to show their toilet some love by checking for leaks and switching out old, inefficient toilets for WaterSense labeled models; the ads played on local radio stations and on Spotify. To celebrate World Water Day, WCO staff, along with WaterSense “spokesgallon” Flo, hosted a special water-themed trivia night at a local restaurant, where attendees could compete on their water knowledge and pick up free toilet dye tablets.

To engage middle and high school students and encourage them to learn about trade careers, Flo and WCO staff attended the Construction Ready Career Expo. The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) created a “world of water” where all aspects of the water industry were discussed, including smart water use. WaterSense signage and information was included, and students could pose for photos with Flo.  

 Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power

The Big Bear Lake (California) Department of Water and Power earned its first Sustained Excellence Award, which is the utility’s fifth WaterSense Award overall. In 2023, Big Bear Lake promoted many WaterSense campaigns, including Fix a Leak Week, Sprinkler Spruce-
Up, and Shower Better. For Fix a Leak Week, Big Bear Lake created a sweepstakes where participants watched an educational video to
find the WaterSense label for a chance to win a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller. Big Bear Lake placed newspaper ads for Fix a Week Leak, as well as for Sprinkler Spruce-Up and Shower Better, using WaterSense materials to highlight water conservation and to look for WaterSense labeled products.

To celebrate Earth Day and teach children about the importance of saving water, the utility partnered with the area’s local electric company, Bear Valley Electric Services, to host a community event. Two fourth grade classes, along with hundreds of community members, could visit with local environmental clubs and community programs and receive handouts on water-efficient practices and products. Additionally, Big Bear Lake gave a presentation to a property owner’s association in an auxiliary community where they discussed the benefits of WaterSense labeled products and handed out free WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators.

Big Bear Lake also partnered with the local Sierra Club chapter to co-host the annual Xeriscape Garden Tour. The exposition portion of the tour was located at one of Big Bear Lake’s xeriscape demonstration gardens. About 200 hundred participants learned about water-smart landscape features and received WaterSense labeled aerators and showerheads.

Citrus County Utilities

Following a year of new water conservation outreach efforts, Citrus County (Florida) Utilities won its sixth Sustained Excellence Award. To help customers use water wisely outdoors, the county created and kicked off its new Be a Smart Irrigator campaign in July 2023, which was inspired by WaterSense outdoor water use campaigns. The campaign used bus decals, radio ads, billboards, and Facebook posts to encourage customers to upgrade to WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers and adopt water-smart landscaping practices. 

Citrus County celebrated Fix a Leak Week by purchasing a half-page ad in the Citrus County Chronicle featuring facts on leaks and the Flip Your Flapper campaign materials from WaterSense. The county also encouraged customers to find and fix leaks by distributing cards from WaterSense with leak detection dye tablets during site visits, at the utility counter, during events, and through the Classroom Toilet Leak Detection Challenge. Over 1,300 dye tablet cards were distributed in 2023.

Citrus County engaged with consumers and businesses at its second annual Terra Vista Earth Day Expo, where staff gave a presentation covering local water resources, where water comes from, and how much water Citrus County residents use locally. Attendees received WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet aerators and showerheads, as well as educational brochures. Participants visited tables to answer a conservation-themed question and be entered into a raffle to win a flowering plant.

City of Charlottesville

The City of Charlottesville (Virginia) focused on creative and engaging outreach in 2023, earning their seventh Sustained Excellence Award. The City developed new television and digital commercials featuring three charismatic water characters singing about the woes of wasting water; the ads incorporated messages focused on fixing running toilets and faucets, replacing inefficient showerheads with WaterSense labeled models, and looking for the WaterSense label.

To celebrate World Water Day in March 2023, the City developed a new video in collaboration with the Rivanna Conservation Alliance about the value of water, actions people can take to save water, and the City’s rebates for WaterSense labeled products. Charlottesville also partnered with the Rivanna Stormwater Education Partnership, Albemarle County Service Authority, Master Gardeners, and the James River Association to hold a rain barrel workshop—the City’s first in over a decade. At the workshop, the City set up a table with WaterSense labeled aerators, conservation kits, and information on rebates and incentives for attendees and visitors in the park where it was held.

Staff continued educating the next generation on water conservation and updated their water-saving curriculum for Charlottesville City Schools by adding activities to their science pacing guide. Materials for teachers linked to WaterSense information about understanding water usage in schools, the Product Finder for labeled models, and the Test your WaterSense game.

City of Durham Water Management 

Continuing its impressive outreach and education programs, City of Durham (North Carolina) Water Management won its second Sustained Excellence Award. In 2023, Durham Water Management increased and enhanced its outreach with a new Fix a Leak Week campaign, “Every Drop Counts,” on the importance of water conservation and the WaterSense label and new Spotify ads for the Shower Better campaign. Throughout the year, Durham Water Management participated in 36 public outreach events, including festivals, concerts, school presentations, and tabling events, reaching over 4,300 customers.

Just in time for Halloween, Durham Water Management released a film trailer on social media—The Haunting of Dripmore Manor—featuring a comically spooky narrative to highlight the consequences of wasteful water habits. The short film integrated WaterSense messaging and showcased how replacing fixtures with WaterSense labeled products is the key to banishing water-wasting ghosts.

For Fix a Leak Week, Durham Water Management partnered with the Durham County Library and Home Repair Lab to offer a new, hands- on workshop on finding and fixing leaks. In the Home Repair Lab’s workroom, attendees were able to try their hands at testing toilets, replacing flappers, changing aerators, and reading meters. They also received useful tips to find and fix leaks in their homes. Finally, in 2023, Durham Water Management issued 423 rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets, helping customers save an estimated 2.2 million gallons of water annually. 

City of Plano

The City of Plano (Texas) won its fifth Sustained Excellence Award after ramping up its outreach and education efforts in 2023. Plano’s water education coordinator collaborated with Customer Utility Services and developed new materials to educate customers on various water conservation practices and available free water conservation items. They also conducted individual outreach calls to residential customers with high water use or continuous use issues, offering these customers solutions to reduce consumption, such as replacing fixtures with WaterSense labeled products. In the initial month of program implementation, nearly one million gallons of water were estimated to be saved.

The City’s Sustainability and Environmental Education Division (SEED) conducted five pop-up water conservation education events using their new electric van, where they handed out information on WaterSense labeled products. SEED also launched a campaign to strengthen internal partnerships, which resulted in three Fix-A-Leak workshops in collaboration with the
Neighborhood Services Department and in six Play at the Park events with the Parks and Recreation Department. Overall, the City of Plano delivered 35 classes and workshop programs focused on water quality, conservation, and efficiency, which reached over 3,800 participants.
To help customers get their irrigations systems ready for summer, the city hosted an online contest promoting Sprinkler Spruce-Up. Participants completed an interactive learning module focused on leak repair and the cycle-and-soak method of irrigation. At the end of the learning module, participants took a short survey to demonstrate what they learned. Three winners were chosen out of nearly 40 individuals who entered.

City of Sacramento Department of Utilities

After ramping up its outreach and partnership efforts, the City of Sacramento (California) Department of Utilities won its third Sustained Excellence Award. To celebrate Fix a Leak Week in 2023, the City hosted a webinar, “Become a Leak Detective: Take the 10 Minute Challenge,” that used WaterSense graphics and information to help people learn how to find and fix water leaks in their home. A total of 130 people attended the live webinar; a recording was distributed to all registrants.

Sacramento Department of Utilities staff encouraged customers to save water outdoors by mailing 5,000 letters to single-family homes with high water usage, with the goal of encouraging customers to complete a Sprinkler Spruce-Up. The city also gave away about 300 yards of mulch during their “Mulch Mayhem” at the Sacramento Marina and promoted WaterSense labeled controllers and water-efficient gardening practices at their Water Wise Garden Showcase. Additionally, the city partnered with the Sacramento Tree Foundation to host two workshops in 2023. Attendees were taught how to properly water and prune trees and learned about the city’s water-saving rebates, including indoor and outdoor upgrades that promote WaterSense labeled products.
 
In June and July, the Department of Utilities conducted a campaign to educate Sacramento residents about its rebates on WaterSense labeled products. The campaign included radio and streaming ads in English and Spanish, a digital display, mobile ads, social media posts in English and Chinese, and digital billboards. The city issued over 150 rebates to customers who replaced their grass with drought-tolerant landscaping, 58 rebates to customers who upgraded the efficiency of their irrigation systems, nearly 600 rebates for WaterSense labeled smart irrigation controllers, and 19 rebates for rain barrels.

Fulton Homes

For the second year in a row, Fulton Homes has earned a WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award for its dedication to building WaterSense labeled homes. In 2023, Fulton closed on over 350 homes, all of which were WaterSense certified, and Fulton has committed to continue to build 100 percent WaterSense labeled homes in all new communities. In addition to WaterSense labeled toilets, faucets, and showerheads, Fulton Homes feature WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, high-efficiency tankless water heaters, water recirculation systems, and leak detection systems. Fulton communities also use reclaimed water for common spaces; residents must limit front yard irrigation, and Fulton meets regularly with homeowner associations (HOAs), going beyond the WaterSense homes specification to encourage conservation outdoors.

To take sustainability a step further, the Learning Academy, Fulton’s online training facility, provides courses on efficient building and energy practices, required for all construction and customer care personnel. Their online education program is also available to all of their contractors and sales associates. Fulton Homes educates those outside the company by maintaining a large presence within the Energy Environmental Builders Alliance, where they advocate for WaterSense labeled homes and fixtures.

In 2023, Fulton achieved what they call the “EPA Triple Crown,” winning an ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award, Indoor AirPlus Leader Award, and WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award. Fulton Homes was featured in an article and case study by Arcxis Energy Inspectors highlighting the collaboration of the two organizations promoting water- and energy-saving homes.

Harris-Galveston Subsidence District

The Harris Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) in Texas has won its first Sustained Excellence Award for its continued dedication to water conservation and promoting WaterSense. In 2023, the District implemented several water conservation community outreach efforts, including a dedicated presentation for homeowner associations with an interactive water conservation Jeopardy game to put their knowledge of water conservation to the test. Additionally, HGSD created informational handouts with step-by-step instructions on how to detect toilet leaks using attached toilet tank leak-detecting tablets and additional resources promoting WaterSense labeled products and a QR code linked to WaterSense’s Replace Your Leaky Flapper video.

HGSD’s Water Conservation Grant Program funded a fixture replacement project that distributed over 300 WaterSense labeled showerheads to residents, potentially saving 974,562 gallons of water per year. This program also helped fund advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) projects, installing 27,000 smart meters, which allow users to access a customer portal for real-time water usage, the ability to identify leaks, and additional water conservation resources linked to HGSD’s Smarter About Water website.

HGSD continued its Water Conservation School Program, H2O Lab!, that provides third through sixth grade classrooms with age-appropriate water education, along with take-home water conservation kits to engage families with activities that reinforce the lessons taught at school and encourage water efficiency at home. The program reached more than 20,000 students and 425 teachers in 2023, projecting an annual water savings of more than 173 million gallons based on the installation of the kits.

Irvine Ranch Water District
 

Thanks to continued creative water conservation outreach efforts, the Irvine Ranch (California) Water District (IRWD) won its second Sustained Excellence Award—their sixth WaterSense Award overall. IRWD encouraged customers to find and fix leaks during Fix a Leak Week with a contest for residents to submit photos of themselves repairing leaks in their homes. To help homeowners get their irrigation systems ready for summer, IRWD held a Fix Your Sprinklers workshop that highlighted irrigation maintenance and water-smart practices. They also partnered with Tierra Verde Industries to offer a 50 percent discount on mulch to help reduce evaporation in local yards.

In 2023, IRWD worked with the University of California Irvine Athletics Department on a marketing campaign to reach students, alumni, and fans. The campaign included signs and video board ads during games, radio and TV commercials, and website ads that highlighted water efficiency and California-friendly landscaping. IRWD also partnered with three local Home Depot stores to raise awareness of water conservation and WaterSense labeled products. At each event, there was a monitor playing their Shed Show web video series focused on water efficiency practices. The Home Depot stocked rebate-eligible WaterSense labeled smart irrigation controllers, and IRWD staff assisted customers with rebate applications.

Homeowners aren’t the only ones benefitting from IRWD programs. Through their WaterStar Business Recognition Program, IRWD provides companies with suggestions to reduce water use, save on water bills, and obtain financial incentives for efficiency improvements. Participating businesses are eligible to receive free or rebated WaterSense labeled models when upgrading fixtures.

KB Home

KB Home has been recognized by WaterSense for 14 consecutive years and has earned an impressive 10th Sustained Excellence Award for its long-standing leadership in building WaterSense labeled homes. KB Home built 2,806 new WaterSense labeled homes in 2023 —over 50 percent more than the amount of labeled homes built in 2022! KB has also committed to building 100 percent WaterSense labeled homes across the southwestern United States. Additionally, 100 percent of the plumbing fixtures installed in all KB homes built since 2009 were WaterSense labeled.

In addition to building WaterSense labeled homes, KB Home is committed to outreach and education about the benefits of homes that have earned the WaterSense label. In 2023, the company collaborated with WaterSense on a case study of more than 200 WaterSense labeled homes at its Oak Shade and Durango communities in Menifee, California. The study evaluated the impact that water savings have on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions compared to communities of similar size with typical new-home construction. According to these findings, the two communities are expected to reduce water-related energy consumption by approximately 530,000 kilowatt hours per year!

During the 2023 Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®) Conference, KB also offered tours of these communities, where attendees learned about the many benefits associated with the WaterSense label.

In further recognition of how water-efficient its homes are, KB was recognized as part of the 2023 RESNET Cross Border Builder Challenge, receiving the award given to the builder with the lowest HERSH2O score in the United States.

Kohler Co.

With its extensive contributions to WaterSense labeled products in the marketplace, Kohler Co. has won its 10th WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award and 15th overall WaterSense award. Kohler introduced 120 new WaterSense labeled products in 2023: seven tank-type toilets; 70 bathroom faucets; 35 showerheads, hand showers, and rain heads; and eight high-efficiency urinals, flushometer bowls, and valves. In 2023 alone, the sale of Kohler, Sterling, and Kallista WaterSense labeled products offered a savings of approximately 91 billion gallons of water, 2.1 million metric tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions, and over $1.6 billion on water, sewer, and energy bills, based on results from EPA’s WaterSense Partner Savings Calculator.

Kohler not only manufactures WaterSense labeled products, but also gives back extensively to the communities it serves. In 2023, the company supported disaster relief and charity efforts, giving $3.5 million of in-kind donations, including WaterSense labeled products, to nonprofit partners. Kohler also donated 200 products, including showerheads and WaterSense labeled toilets, as part of the Alliance for Water Efficiency Partnership for Water Affordability, Long Beach Program. They estimated an average 13 percent reduction in weekly water consumption for participating homes compared to homes in the control group.

To ensure everyone associated with the company is up-to-date on WaterSense, Kohler offers online water conservation training as part of its outreach to showroom associates, architects, designers, specifiers, distributors, homebuilders, remodelers, and its own sales associates. Its accredited courses were used for 318 trainings in 2023, reaching 7,780 attendees.

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District has earned its seventh Sustained Excellence Award. In 2023, the District revamped and refreshed its website to include information focused on its My Drop Counts campaign, which features WaterSense labeled product rebate programs. The District also promoted a My Drop Counts pledge for water conservation at home and at work. By taking the pledge, consumers and businesses can find out how much water they’ll save by taking water-efficient measures inside and outside.

The District attended a number of community events in 2023 and reached over 1,000 people across the region. During the Summer Adventures Day at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, they educated residents about water-efficient irrigation. In October, District staff attended the Trick or Treatment Fall Festival and promoted the WaterSense Flip Your Flapper campaign.

The District continues to provide rebates for retrofits and fixture replacements with WaterSense labeled products, including 600 rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets in single- and multi-family homes. In summer 2023, the District launched its new Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program, through which they rebated over 35 leak detectors. Additionally, the District distributed free leak detection kits.

Niagara®

Thanks to its continued dedication to promoting WaterSense labeled products and water conservation, Niagara earned its first WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award and eighth WaterSense award overall. In 2023, Niagara launched the new Phantom One Piece toilet, a 0.8 gallon- per-flush toilet, at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). Niagara highlighted how the new toilet is WaterSense labeled in all marketing, advertising, and booth materials distributed to KBIS’ audience of 40,000 attendees.

Niagara promoted the WaterSense label and their products’ water efficiency statistics in all of their campaigns, reaching more than 100 wholesalers and more than 100 key industry media outlets. Niagara also participated in 2023 Fix a Leak Week, encouraging customers to switch to WaterSense labeled products, and promoted WaterSense on social media and at 26 trade shows throughout 2023.

Niagara worked with industry organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers to promote WaterSense labeled products. The manufacturer hosted 41 live accredited courses with an attendance of over 430 people. Niagara conducted over 100 product trainings to help wholesalers and distributors understand the benefits of WaterSense labeled products.

Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District

Thanks to its focus on outdoor water conservation outreach, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water) earned its second Sustained Excellence Award. In 2023, Northern Water developed six complete residential water-efficient landscape design plans to assist homeowners in rebuilding after the December 2021 Marshall Fire. They collaborated with the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership in California to research strategies to include and developed an advisory committee to ensure the templates would meet the needs of homeowners and the community. Along with supporting fire recovery efforts, the plans are designed to be used by HOAs for landscape renovations and other new communities.

To help irrigation and landscaping professionals obtain water efficiency skills and become certified, Northern Water hosted three Irrigation Association classes and one certification testing day on its campus. About 100 professionals attended the classes, where they received an introduction to WaterSense labeled controllers and sprinkler components, as well as the benefits of being a certified professional when bidding for contracting services.

Northern Water collaborated with WaterSense throughout 2023, providing recommendations to revise the best practices in the WaterSense at Work guide for commercial and institutional facilities and support use of the EPA Water Score in the multifamily sector.

Northern Water also connected WaterSense staff with past Water Efficiency Landscape Grantees at HOAs who could provide input on new HOA tools and case studies for the program.

Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (as a Professional Certifying Organization)

Thanks to its continued dedication to education and certification of irrigation professionals, the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership in California won its eighth WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award as a professional certifying organization (PCO). In 2023, through its Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) program, the PCO issued 791 new certifications, while 1,990 landscape professionals maintained their certifications for a renewal rate of 90 percent in 2023. To expand the reach of certification classes and testing, the Partnership began offering an English/Spanish combination exam.

In partnership with the University of California Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County, the Partnership installed a display at the 2023 Sonoma County Fair to showcase water-efficient landscape practices and promote the QWEL program, as well as WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers.

To expand training opportunities for regional professionals, Sonoma-Marin developed and piloted a new QWEL Rainwater Harvesting module for California, with a focus on Sonoma and Marin counties. The training introduced concepts in rainwater catchment system design and installation to complement the sustainable water management practices taught in the QWEL certification training. Forty-five landscape professionals attended the two-day training in December 2023, including 25 who had previously received QWEL certification.

Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (for Promotion)

After winning three Partner of the Year Awards as a WaterSense Promotional Partner, the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership in California has earned its first Sustained Excellence Award in this partner category (the Partnership also earned a Sustained Excellence Award as a Professional Certifying Organization). As part of their Fix a Leak Week celebrations, the Partnership held a Dye Tab Challenge that encouraged residents to test their toilets for leaks. The partnership made free dye tablets available at 15 locations in Sonoma and Marin counties, and challenge participants were entered to win one of five $25 gift cards.

The Partnership collaborated with Sonoma Clean Power and the Sonoma County Library to make water-efficient information and fixtures available to library patrons. Residents can check out a Do-It-Yourself Toolkit that contains tools, information, and water- and energy-efficient fixtures, including free WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators. Users can install the free fixtures themselves and return the tools and manuals once they’re finished.
 
To connect with residents across Sonoma-Marin’s service area, staff attended many events throughout 2023. The Partnership tabled at the annual Fiesta de Independencia to promote water conservation programs to the Latino community in Sonoma County. During the 2023 Sonoma County Fair, they partnered with the University of California Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County to co-develop and sponsor a sustainable landscape display with a dinosaur theme, “Water Waste Leads to Extinction.” The display garden featured low-water-use native plants and WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers; visitors could also learn about rainwater harvesting.

The Home Depot

Coming on the heels of winning three WaterSense Partner of Year Awards, The Home Depot this year earned a WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award. In its retail stores, 100 percent of the toilets The Home Depot offers have earned the WaterSense label, and over 7,000 WaterSense labeled product models are offered through the store’s website. In 2023, The Home Depot worked with utility partners and drove sales through over 500 local utility rebates. To make products more affordable for consumers, consumers could earn instant rebates on over 140 different WaterSense labeled products, and their stores offered over $50 million in WaterSense labeled product markdowns and discounts.

To ensure sales associates are able to help customers select the right water-saving fixtures for their needs, The Home Depot provided employees with training on the benefits of WaterSense labeled products and features information on WaterSense prominently in their sales associate pocket guide and merchant handbook. And to help educate customers on how WaterSense labeled products can help them save, The Home Depot offered over 100 live-stream, public workshop sessions that educated attendees on WaterSense.

To further demonstrate the importance of WaterSense to the company, The Home Depot’s environmental, social, and governance annual report had a page dedicated to the program, and their sustainability website features WaterSense labeled products and water-saving strategies. With a reach as broad as The Home Depot’s, that means the WaterSense label received 3.7 million impressions online!

Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

The Upper San Gabriel Valley (California) Municipal Water District earned its third Sustained Excellence Award for its continued creative water conservation outreach and education. In 2023, the Upper District produced a “Droughtbusters” Halloween video focused on WaterSense labeled products, leak detective skills, and water-saving techniques, as well as drought-tolerant landscapes. The District also created Uppy the Blue Nosed Water Hero, a holiday jingle video focused on drought-tolerant plant options and ways to save water over the holidays.

Upper San Gabriel Valley updated its Sustainable Watershed Education program workbook for local schools to include more region-specific information, such as how water reaches homes and ways to save water in the district, as well as a Use Your Water Sense activity. The District increased the reach of the program by 30 percent in 2023, with over 2,700 students participating.

To make water-efficient fixtures more affordable and accessible to customers in 2023, the District was awarded funding through a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation grant program to expand availability of its Water Smart Home Kits, which contain WaterSense labeled fixtures and educational materials. The grant allows the District to double the number of kits that can be distributed. The District also collaborated with fellow WaterSense partner the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to implement and promote rebates on WaterSense labeled fixtures, including residential toilets, commercial toilets, urinals, pre-rinse spray valves, and weather-based irrigation controllers to consumers and businesses. In 2023, the District rebated over 350 WaterSense labeled toilets and over 220 labeled weather-based

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Partners of the Year

Broward County Government

Broward County (Florida) Government has received their sixth WaterSense Award, earning Partner of the Year for their efforts to help consumers save both water and money. In 2023, Broward increased the incentive for their toilet rebate program from $100 to $125 to encourage more residents to replace their old, inefficient toilets. To promote the increase, Broward started a campaign, “25 Things for $25,” providing residents with a variety of suggestions on how to use the extra $25 they would receive as part of the rebate program. Suggestions included purchasing a water filtration pitcher, investing in a reusable water bottle, and supporting local farmers by purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from nearby markets.

In March, Broward hosted a Water Matters Day event at Tree Tops Park featuring interactive educational displays and booths where attendees had the opportunity to learn about various water conservation techniques, smart irrigation practices, native landscaping, and more. The county hosted a hands-on demonstration on optimizing irrigation system efficiency and a workshop showing the benefits of installing a WaterSense labeled toilet. Broward County also promoted its toilet rebate program during this event to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation.

Broward’s toilet rebate program was also featured in a presentation to the Urban League of Broward County for first-time homebuyers, showcasing the importance of selecting water-efficient fixtures and reminding attendees to make water-smart choices in their new homes. Looking to the future, Broward County is partnering with the Minority Builders Coalition (MBC) to address any financial barriers to switching to WaterSense labeled toilets. Broward aims to work with MBC to install more efficient toilets in eligible homes free of charge.

City of Bend

The City of Bend (Oregon) took outdoor water conservation to new heights, earning their first Partner of the Year Award for their water conservation outreach and programs in 2023. More than 200 people attended the City’s annual WaterWise field day event in June, which included educational seminars presented by local green industry professionals and live irrigation demonstrations to promote ways to save water outdoors. The City collaborated with WaterSense partnerG3, Green Gardens Group, to present multiple webinars on outdoor water conservation topics, including drought-proofing landscapes, fundamentals of drip irrigation, and a garden design workshop.

Outdoor education was also featured in the City’s quarterly newsletter, the Conservation Connection, with an article on the benefits, application, and performance of WaterSense labeled sprinkler nozzles for residents and green industry professionals. The City also encouraged residents to use irrigation professionals certified by a WaterSense labeled program. To promote water savings indoors, the City held a social media raffle contest during Fix a Leak Week; participants who submitted photos of themselves checking for leaks had a chance to win a WaterSense labeled toilet, showerhead, and faucet aerators.
 
The City of Bend continued to offer rebates on WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, spray sprinkler bodies, toilets, and showerheads in 2023—more than doubling the number of rebates they issued in 2022. The City advertised its rebates on local television network affiliates and promoted the WaterSense label with point-of-sale signage at stores such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Ewing, and Horizon Distributors.

City of Flagstaff

A banner year of creative outreach and educational programs gave the City of Flagstaff (Arizona) their first WaterSense Partner of the Year Award. The City started out the year by participating in the Flagstaff Visitors Center’s annual Chocolate Walk in February 2023. Staff gave samples and discussed the embodied water in the production of chocolate, while providing WaterSense labeled products and other water-efficient giveaways. In April, the City organized a scavenger hunt with local nonprofit organizations to promote water conservation and give away WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators.

The City hosted trivia nights during the month of April to help educate the community about Flagstaff water resources and ways to save water; participants could win WaterSense labeled products. In the fall, the City participated on a climate panel for the annual Festival of Science at Lowell Observatory, where they discussed water efficiency and WaterSense and gave out WaterSense labeled faucet aerators and showerheads. In October 2023, the City provided over 400 Home Water Check-up Kits during the Make a Difference Day recycling event, including supplies to check for leaks and a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.

During the Northern Arizona University’s Better World Film Series, the City hosted a documentary screening and presentation focused on WaterSense labeled products. The City of Flagstaff also created a large- scale “connect four” game and a cornhole set using the WaterSense label for attendees to play. In addition to these events, the City gave away and issued rebates on nearly 4,000 WaterSense labeled fixtures to Flagstaff residents.

City of Round Rock
 

With a solid showing in its promotion of WaterSense and water efficiency in 2023, the City of Round Rock (Texas) has earned its second Partner of the Year Award. For Fix a Leak Week, the City created a new educational video showing residents how to detect leaks at home by reading their water meter and how to locate leaks in sprinkler systems, water softeners, water heaters, toilets, faucets, and spigots. The City posted the video on its conservation page and sent it to customers with water leak notifications.

To encourage more indoor water savings, the City of Round Rock identified older homes in their community where many still have original toilets and other bathroom fixtures. The City sent postcards promoting their Better Bathroom Rebate to encourage over 1,600 customers to switch to WaterSense labeled bathroom fixtures. In addition to plumbing fixtures, the City offered rebates on WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies.

During Smart Irrigation Month in July, the City of Round Rock hosted an Irrigation 101 class covering efficient irrigation scheduling, detecting system leaks, minor repairs with hands-on practice, native landscaping, and various irrigation components. The City also collaborated with Williamson County AgriLife Extension Services and other neighboring water utilities to implement an education event called Irrigation Station aimed at residential outdoor water use. The events included a presentation on water issues, such as supply, distribution, and water restrictions, as well as an open forum with stations dedicated to sprinkler scheduling, maintenance, upgrades, and landscaping.

East Bay Municipal Utility District

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in California won their first WaterSense Partner of the Year Award after making waves on the West Coast helping consumers and businesses save water. During Fix a Leak Week, for example, the utility provided toilet leak detection tablets and fliers at local hardware stores to help customers find and fix leaks at home. On social media, they created Instagram reels with short video reminders to turn off irrigation systems during wet weather. The utility even has a multilingual video library on YouTube on how to save water in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Their video in Spanish on how to fix a toilet leak has been viewed over 200,000 times and has been popular in California and Mexico.

As part of its regional conservation efforts, EBMUD collaborated with other WaterSense partners on the 20th anniversary Water Conservation Showcase, which had over 300 attendees and featured speakers on a range of topics from legislation to landscaping best practices. EBMUD also organizes and hosts in-person and virtual workshops on topics such as sheet mulching, biodiversity, and drip irrigation.

To encourage customers to pursue lawn conversion projects and choose appropriate plants and irrigation design, the district launched a Pilot Landscape Design Assistance Program offering a two-hour consultation with a professional landscape designer. EBMUD staff also regularly host virtual drop-in sessions over Zoom to answer questions about landscape rebate projects.

Monte Vista Water District

Monte Vista Water District in Montclair, California, earned their first Partner of the Year Award by implementing WaterSense campaigns and water conservation initiatives throughout the year. During Fix a Leak Week, for example, customers were provided information on the District’s rebate programs to replace inefficient outdoor products with WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies. In collaboration with EcoTech Services, the District introduced a new Indoor Leak Repair Program, assisting 22 customers with 26 fixture repairs. And during a Leak Repair 101 Workshop, attendees received hands-on instruction on fixing leaks, efficient irrigation maintenance tips, and leak repair kits.

The District hosted its first-ever Waterwise Expo in April 2023, showcasing the benefits of California native plants, efficient irrigation techniques, and strategies for maximizing water savings. For Sprinkler Spruce-Up, they promoted their Sprinkler Timer Program, Nozzle Retrofit Program, and Irrigation Tune-up Program. A partnership with the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce also helped spread WaterSense messages to the business community. In June, Monte Vista Water District hosted a Sustainable Landscaping Lunch & Learn to help property managers and maintenance teams work together to improve commercial landscape water use.

On social media, the Monte Vista Water District promoted Water Tip Wednesdays and their Water Watch campaign in response to ongoing drought conditions. They also encouraged public commitment to water conservation through the I’m for Water Pledge, receiving 557 responses. The District also celebrated Fix a Leak Week with social media posts and a raffle for the installation of a WaterSense labeled toilet.

Moulton Niguel Water District

Moulton Niguel Water District in Laguna Hills, California, earned Partner of the Year—their first WaterSense Award—for promoting WaterSense campaigns and their own water conservation programs on fixing leaks and smart irrigation. The District spread the word about WaterSense in guides, direct mailers, social media, website posts, and doorhangers. During Fix a Leak Week, they mailed 55,000 dye strips and encouraged customers to test their toilets for leaks. The mailer included links to their “Potty Talk” video series on YouTube. Customers that submitted their leak test results were eligible to win one of 100 $25 gift cards to use for leak repairs.

In partnership with numerous agencies and cities, the District hosted a homeowner association networking event promoting incentives for WaterSense labeled products. Moulton Niguel also coordinated installation of 441 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controllers (WBICs) in the community, including 26 commercial-grade units; most of the WBICs were installed through their Smart Sprinkler Timer Direct Installation Program. These efforts are projected to save over 19.7 million gallons of water.

Moulton Niguel participated in an irrigation-focused “Fall Back” campaign, which featured videos on water-wise irrigation, a speakers bureau program, and Smart Irrigation Month workshops. They also provided an irrigation certification program to educate professionals on smart outdoor water techniques and hosted water-smart landscape classes for 400 customers, where they promoted water-efficient spray sprinkler nozzles and WBICs using the “look for” WaterSense promotional label. And as part of their school water fixture upgrade program, the District retrofitted 215 toilets, 152 urinals, 590 faucets, and 133 showerheads in the Capistrano Unified School District.

Rancho California Water District

The Rancho California Water District in Temecula, California, has earned its second Partner of the Year Award for consistently promoting WaterSense campaigns. Rancho Water held a virtual workshop in May 2023 for Sprinkler Spruce-Up highlighting ways to promote healthy landscapes and reduce water waste outdoors. They distributed the WaterSense Jump Into Pool Water Efficiency Guide to pool contractors and homeowners. Rancho Water promoted their own Be a Water Hero campaign encouraging residents to use less water during drought conditions in California via their website, social media, and paid advertising that reached over 400,000 people.

Rancho Water collaborated with a diverse range of WaterSense partners to promote saving water. With Lowe’s Home Improvement, they created a video promoting WaterSense labeled products and water conservation information, which they shared on social media. The utility promoted efficient irrigation practices through partnerships with the Riverside County Flood District and Blue Watch Dog Conservation District. Rancho Water collaborated with the Murrieta Public Library to designate a section of the library for Fix a Leak Week with various WaterSense materials such as leak detective kids’ activities, bath hacks, bookmarks, and Fix a Leak at Home activity. Their dedicated landscape website, Temecula Murrieta In Bloom, provided information on water-efficient landscaping practices and sustainable gardening.

Rancho Water demonstrated their commitment to promoting WaterSense labeled products throughout 2023. Working in partnership with Rachio and the California Water Efficiency Partnership, they distributed 200 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controllers and partnered with the Southern California Gas Company on a direct install program providing free WaterSense labeled showerheads and other water-efficient appliances to disadvantaged communities. They also participated in regional rebate programs offered by the Metropolitan Water District, covering a range of items from turf replacements to WaterSense labeled sprinkler nozzles.

Santa Clara Valley Water District

Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) in San Jose, California, has earned their second Partner of the Year Award for actively promoting water conservation through a variety of educational and incentive programs. Valley Water engaged students through hands-on activities in classrooms and after- school programs, which included assemblies, field trips, and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) events focused on water conservation. Valley Water held 15 summer camp programs in collaboration with organizations such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as six assemblies with the City of San Jose’s Walk n’ Roll program. During the assemblies, students took a pledge to save water, led by Valley Water’s “H2Cool” mascot, and received WaterSense-inspired educational materials.

In 2023, Valley Water’s eCart Program distributed free water-saving devices throughout Santa Clara County, including over 850 WaterSense labeled showerheads, 1,100 aerators, and Do-It-Yourself Water Wise Surveys inspired by WaterSense leak checklists. Valley Water’s Fixture Replacement Program installed over 1,700 WaterSense labeled toilets and 16 showerheads. Their Landscape Rebate Program incentivizes properties with qualifying landscapes to replace existing lawn and pool areas with drought-tolerant landscapes, rainwater capture systems, and upgrading outdated irrigation systems; through the program, Valley Water rebated 428 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controllers and over 2,300 WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies in 2023. Valley Water also piloted new programs, including the Leak Assessment & Repair Pilot and Toilet Assessment & Retrofit Pilot, in partnership with PG&E. Through these initiatives, Valley Water installed more than 100 WaterSense labeled toilets, 66 WaterSense labeled lavatory faucets, 20 kitchen faucets, and 45 outdoor hose bibs. Valley Water also sponsored two Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) trainings in Spanish and English, certifying 47 professionals in 2023.

Tarrant Regional Water District

Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) in Fort Worth, Texas, has earned their second Partner of the Year Award by working with their customer cities to promote WaterSense and water efficiency at various educational events. In 2023, TRWD held over 230 water conservation classes and events, reaching over 15,400 participants. Posting class recordings on YouTube gained an additional 93,000 viewers! In collaboration with other water districts and utilities, TRWD offered two Fix a Leak Week workshops on finding and fixing leaks inside and outside the home. Attendees heard from leak-fixing experts and saw hands-on demonstrations, then an indoor leak kit or a sprinkler test kit was provided for participants to take home.

During the hottest months of the year, TRWD offered a Summer Savings Series of online classes to all of its customer cities, including Be Smarter Than Your Smart Controller, Home Sprinkler Basics, and DIY Sprinkler Repair. They also participated in a regional water conservation advertising campaign with the City of Dallas and North Texas Municipal Water District, which included a weekly watering advice service that promoted smart lawn watering techniques. When winter rolled around, TRWD promoted WaterSense labeled products as part of the Holiday Gift Guide on their website and in the Save Tarrant Water Monthly Drop newsletter.

Throughout 2023, TRWD conducted drawings for water conservation- related prizes in conjunction with WaterSense campaigns such as Your Better Yard, Smart Irrigation Month, and Shower Better. To be entered in the drawing, customers could read a web page or blog post and answer questions to win native Texas plant garden kits, WaterSense labeled smart irrigation controllers, or a shower savings kit that included two WaterSense labeled showerheads. During Shower Better Month, TRWD provided WaterSense labeled showerheads to nearly 200 residents who brought their old showerheads into their local water utility offices.

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EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Arlington Water Utilities

Arlington (Texas) Water Utilities had a big year promoting water conservation in 2023, earning their first WaterSense Award for Excellence in Education and Outreach. In February, they promoted a Love Your Yard campaign to reduce outdoor water use. The utility offered free kits to customers that contained four sprinkler gauges, instructions on how to measure sprinkler output, and information on water-smart irrigation. For Fix a Leak Week in March, Arlington Water hosted two in-person classes and posted on social media to educate residents on the importance of finding and fixing leaks inside and outside their homes. In addition, the utility promoted Fix a Leak Week in its Tips and Tools for Saving on Your Bill newsletter. Arlington Water customers also could sign up for free sprinkler evaluations all year long as part of a collaboration with WaterSense partner Tarrant Regional Water District. The utility used targeted emails to promote the program and performed more than 500 evaluations! Arlington Water and Tarrant also worked together to allow customers to exchange old, inefficient showerheads in the fall for a WaterSense labeled model, distributing more than 120 showerheads.

City of Lakeland Water Utilities

The City of Lakeland (Florida) Water Utilities made a splash in 2023, earning its first WaterSense Award for Excellence in Education and Outreach. The City attended more than 20 events and creatively educated attendees by displaying a mini “green” home model—a dollhouse featuring WaterSense labeled toilets and ENERGY STAR® certified appliances, as well as rain sensors, microirrigation, and a rain barrel to educate the public on ways to save water. The City also helped organize the annual Seven Rivers Water Festival with a few other local utilities. The festival highlights water conservation and natural resource stewardship. The City of Lakeland Water Utilities was also active in the classroom, participating in The Great American Teach-in, afterschool Boys & Girls Clubs’ workshops, summer library events, and the Spring Break STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) program, where they taught about water- saving practices. On social media, the City shared water conservation tips with over 80,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram through their Water Wednesday posts.

City of Oklahoma City

The City of Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) earned its first WaterSense Award for Excellence in Education and Outreach with a focus on teaching residents how to save water and look for WaterSense labeled products through its Squeeze Every Drop conservation program. Oklahoma City attended 26 tabling events in the community where they promoted finding and fixing leaks, composting, water-efficient landscaping, and other water conservation topics. To help homeowners save water, the City held three homeowner association (HOA) irrigation check-up workshops to demonstrate best practices and simple sprinkler repairs to HOA members. Oklahoma City hosted or attended seven other speaking engagements on topics from understanding your water bill, to making leak repairs at home, to planting native, drought- tolerant species of plants. As another way to promote outdoor water savings, the City conducted a “Winter Pop-Up” series at five home and garden centers; the pop-ups included water-efficient irrigation equipment demonstrations.

Cobb County Water System

Cobb County (Georgia) Water System has earned an impressive 13th WaterSense Award, this year for Excellence in Education and Outreach. In 2023, Cobb County participated in several WaterSense campaigns, including Fix a Leak Week, Sprinkler Spruce-Up, Your Better Yard, and Shower Better. During Fix a Leak Week in March and Shower Better Month in October, Cobb County distributed WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators to customers at no cost. In July, the utility engaged their Spanish-speaking customer base during a local Spanish language Family Fun Safety Day, where the county encouraged over 400 visitors to play WaterSense’s Lotería game with cards and facts on water-saving devices and behaviors. Cobb County staffed a booth at a local Master Gardener plant sale, promoting WaterSense’s Find it, Flag it, Fix it materials for repairing irrigation systems to over 800 gardeners. For indoor water savings, Cobb County distributed nearly 400 free water-saving kits that include WaterSense labeled faucet aerators and showerheads.

Department of Water, County of Kaua‘i

The Department of Water, County of Kaua‘i (Hawaii) earned their fourth WaterSense Award for Excellence in Education and Outreach. New in 2023, the Department organized a month-long Your Better Yard campaign to showcase easy xeriscaping options for water-efficient landscaping. The Department of Water gave away lavender seed packets and showcased a selection of drought-tolerant plants and posted landscaping tips on signage. To promote Your Better Bathroom and Shower Better, Kaua‘i staff set up a display in the Department of Water lobby offering free WaterSense labeled showerheads—giving away more than 275, which they anticipate will save nearly 750,000 gallons of water in the County of Kaua‘i annually! Throughout the year, the Department held eight WaterSense-specific distribution events in the community where they handed out WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators, shower timers, leak detection tablets, and WaterSense educational materials. Their one-person team participated in over 20 outreach events in 2023, where they educated customers on water-saving practices and promoted WaterSense labeled fixtures.

Hilton Head Public Service District

With a continuous stream of water conservation messaging, Hilton Head (South Carolina) Public Service District (PSD) earned its third WaterSense Award for Excellence in Education and Outreach. Throughout 2023, Hilton Head PSD promoted a variety of WaterSense outreach campaigns, including: encouraging customers to take the I’m for Water Pledge at the beginning of the year; helping homeowners identify leaks during Fix a Leak Week; and getting those with irrigation systems to conduct a Sprinkler Spruce-Up. The PSD suggested improvements to Hilton Head’s many swimming pools by sharing WaterSense’s pool efficiency resources in the summer, and it encouraged customers to look for the WaterSense label on fixtures at the end of the year through their Tis the Season for Savings campaign. Hilton Head PSD also spread 40 WaterSense-themed messages through Instagram and Facebook in 2023. To reach a larger audience, Hilton Head PSD partners with the Clemson University Extension Service to provide education about responsible lawn care and landscaping through social media, newsletters, and their website.

Kearns Improvement District

Thanks to their continued commitment to water conservation education, Kearns (Utah) Improvement District has earned their second WaterSense Award for Excellence in Education and Outreach. In 2023, Kearns Improvement District partnered with Kearns Township and Utah Water Savers to renovate the Paul Walker 911 Memorial Park with water-wise landscaping and WaterSense labeled irrigation equipment. The renovation project is estimated to save 450,000 gallons of water annually! Kearns offered free conservation kits to any customers that visited Kearns’ customer service counter; the kits included a garden hose timer, a shower timer, a soil moisture meter, a water-efficient hose spray nozzle, and the WaterSense Simple Steps to Save Water brochure. To educate a younger audience about water efficiency, Kearns hosted a Water Conservation Art Contest for students. Elementary, junior high, and high school students were encouraged to get creative and depict water- saving practices and the importance of water conservation for a chance to win monetary prizes.

SCV Water

Santa Clarita Valley (California) Water Agency (SCV Water) has earned an impressive fifth WaterSense award in a row, this time for Excellence in Education and Outreach. SCV Water and the City of Santa Clarita constructed the Bridgeport Park Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden next to an elementary school to promote sustainable, climate-resilient landscapes to the community and provide the school’s Green Team a space for outdoor learning. To increase the effectiveness of their water conservation outreach, in 2023 SCV Water worked with the University of California’s Dornsife Public Exchange to conduct a study that found residents were unaware of how much water they use, and many have not taken action to save water. SCV Water is using the results to improve engagement and remove customer barriers. SCV Water continued to offer the WaterSMART Workshop—an online interactive e-learning module for residential customers—to more than 125 participants in 2023. They also created videos to educate residents how to find and fix household leaks and to promote their Lawn Replacement Program.

EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING WATERSENSE LABELED PRODUCTS

Alameda County Water District

Alameda County (California) Water District earned its third WaterSense Award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products. In 2023, the District hosted four workshops on landscape water efficiency, covering topics including: conversion to native and drought-tolerant plants; efficient irrigation and tree care; and rainwater harvesting. They issued rebates for 142 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controllers and 125 WaterSense labeled sprinkler spray bodies. The District also partnered with Rising Sun Center for Opportunity to promote their Green House Call program. Nearly 100 homes received “green house calls,” where WaterSense labeled showerheads and bathroom faucet aerators, as well as water-efficient kitchen faucet aerators, were installed. The District also distributed a new and improved leak kit with free toilet leak detection dye tablets and a toilet flapper; educational materials about finding and fixing leaks; information on how to access the District’s new My Smart Water Connect Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) customer portal; and the California Water Efficiency Partnership’s Practical Plumbing Handbook.

California Water Service Company

With a focus on helping Californians save water during the drought, California Water Service (CalWater) earned its second WaterSense Award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products. Cal Water offered rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets, urinals, weather-based irrigation controllers, and spray sprinkler bodies and even increased the incentive amount during drought to encourage more customers to save water during drier weather. Cal Water also offered a free Smart Landscape Tune-Up Program to eligible customers to provide professional repair and retrofit services from an irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled program. Through the rebate program and the Smart Landscape Tune-Up Program, over 1,660 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controllers and more than 8,000 WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies were installed throughout Cal Water’s California service territory. Cal Water also distributed water conservation kits to sixth grade students with WaterSense labeled showerheads to take home and share the savings with their families.

City of Tucson/Tucson Water

The City of Tucson (Arizona)/Tucson Water earned their second Excellence Award for Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products. For example, they send a Water Matters newsletter to all customers; WaterWiser text tips are sent to over 1,900 subscribers each month focusing on outdoor watering practices, including information on how to purchase a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller. As part of its Drought Preparedness and Response Plan Tier 1 efforts, Tucson Water directed nearly 8,000 customers with high water usage to available rebates and incentives for WaterSense labeled products. Prior to the annual Sustainable Landscapes Expo, Tucson Water worked with Ewing to offer a discounted price for a WaterSense labeled controller with cloud management software. To receive the discount, customers took an online workshop to learn about programming the controllers; over 230 people took the workshop and over 180 purchased the smart irrigation controller. In a follow-up survey of purchasers, 91 percent thought the controller made it easier to schedule irrigation, and 89 percent said the product saved water.

JEA

Thanks to its efforts making WaterSense labeled products accessible, JEA in Jacksonville, Florida, won its first WaterSense Award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products. To promote their rebate programs, JEA participated in over 20 events in 2023, where they had attendees spin a Conservation Wheel to win free water-efficient products and distributed information about rebate programs, including how to identify WaterSense labeled eligible models. JEA works with The Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores to promote rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets and irrigation controllers. Signs are posted in store aisles and stickers are placed on the products for rebates offered in more than 40 stores in the region. JEA’s rebates are also listed on the stores’ websites for local customers who do their shopping online. In 2023, JEA rebated nearly 800 water-efficient irrigation controllers and 1,540 toilets. In addition to offering rebates, JEA provides direct installation of WaterSense labeled showerheads and aerators as a part of their Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Program that assists low-to-moderate-income customers.

Medford Water Commission

Medford (Oregon) Water Commission has earned their first WaterSense Award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products. Medford helped customers find ways to save water through their indoor audits, during which they provided free WaterSense labeled water-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators, as well as information about their WaterSense labeled toilet and smart controller rebate programs. Medford’s Water Efficiency Team also conducts sprinkler surveys; residents receive a free inspection of their sprinkler systems, as well as rebates to replace their old irrigation controllers with WaterSense labeled models. In 2023, Medford partnered with several hardware stores to promote their WaterSense labeled product rebates during Fix a Leak Week with signage and QR codes that take customers to the rebate application form. Thanks to these partnerships and promotional efforts, Medford Water Commission rebated over 70 WaterSense labeled toilets in 2023. To increase the number of irrigation professionals promoting water efficiency in the area, Medford held a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor class that also emphasized WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers.

Metropolitan Council

The Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota has earned their third WaterSense Award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products this year. They continued their successful Water Efficiency Grant Program, which provides grants to municipalities around the region to support the purchase and installation of products that reduce water use. In 2023, the Metropolitan Council helped residential customers and commercial properties cover the replacement of over 800 irrigation controllers, more than 130 spray sprinkler bodies, and over 1,000 toilets with WaterSense labeled models. Through a pilot project with Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS), the Metropolitan Council funded the installation of another 242 WaterSense labeled toilets in apartment buildings located in disadvantaged areas in Saint Paul where tenants pay their water bills. During the Minnesota State Fair, the Metropolitan Council—in partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Turfgrass Science team—was able to reach thousands of attendees with information about smart irrigation and water conservation, including materials about WaterSense labeled irrigation equipment.

Veolia North America

Veolia North America (formerly SUEZ North America) has won their second WaterSense Award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products in their New York service area. Veolia offers rebates on WaterSense labeled showerheads, smart irrigation controllers, toilets, and urinals. The utility partnered with Lowe’s Home Improvement, The Home Depot, and other local stores to promote these WaterSense labeled products and their rebates. For customers shopping online, Veolia collaborated with Orange & Rockland, the gas and electric utility in New York, to create an online store that issues Veolia customers instant rebates on WaterSense labeled showerheads and irrigation controllers. Since the launch of their water conservation and efficiency program in 2017, Veolia has issued over 13,900 rebates on WaterSense labeled products, helping its customers save water and money. For commercial customers, Veolia offered free water assessments to identify fixtures to upgrade; in 2023, two colleges in Rockland County, New York, installed nearly 400 WaterSense labeled showerheads.

EXCELLENCE IN STRATEGIC COLLABORATION

Alliance for Water Efficiency

The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) has earned an impressive seventh WaterSense Excellence Award for Strategic Collaboration. In 2023, AWE released a report with the Regional Water Authority (RWA) in Sacramento, California, that evaluated 10 project sites from RWA’s Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Landscape Upgrades Program. After the sites received incentives to upgrade their landscape plant material, irrigation systems, and equipment, AWE worked with RWA to estimate the water savings, energy savings, and greenhouse gas reductions they achieved. AWE also partnered with Houston Public Works to publish An Assessment of Water Affordability and Conservation Potential in Houston, Texas, which found a significant opportunity for consumers to save water and lower their utility bills by replacing inefficient fixtures and appliances. AWE continued their partnership with WaterSense by co-hosting a series of webinars focused on outdoor water efficiency topics. In 2023, nearly 500 people attended the webinars live or viewed the recordings!

G3, Green Gardens Group

Winning its fifth WaterSense Award, G3—Green Gardens Group in Los Angeles—is being recognized with an Excellence Award in Strategic Collaboration. In partnership with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, G3 taught 130 California Friendly Landscape classes that promoted WaterSense and the benefits of working with certified professionals to nearly 3,700 registrants. As part of their work with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, G3 taught 16 Lawn Be Gone hands-on workshops that provided training in lawn transformation, rainwater capture, and drip irrigation at private properties.In all, G3 conducted over 200 classes and workshops for property owners and professionals in 2023, with more than 6,000 attendees. Each class included information on WaterSense labeled irrigation equipment and irrigation professionals certified by a WaterSense labeled program. Additional collaborations included: City of Bend (Oregon); City of Bozeman (Montana); Upper San Gabriel Valley (California) Municipal Water District; Rancho California Water District; and the City of Santa Ana (California) on a Watershed Wise landscape transformation with local Girl Scout troops.

EXCELLENCE IN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM GROWTH

California Water Efficiency Partnership

The California Water Efficiency Partnership in Sacramento won their second WaterSense Award for Excellence in Certification Program Growth due to their commitment to certifying landscape and irrigation professionals. The California Water Efficiency Partnership awarded 162 Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certifications in 2023, an increase from the 120 issued in 2022. In 2023, the Partnership hosted four in-person QWEL trainings and five virtual trainings in English or Spanish. Their virtual training option allowed for more participation from individuals with mobility restrictions, schedule considerations, or health concerns. The Partnership collaborated with various water agencies to host QWEL trainings, including with California Water Service to host training courses and certify professionals outside the Partnership’s usual San Francisco Bay service area. The Partnership also fueled program growth by implementing a sales intelligence and engagement platform to compile a list of over 1,000 industry contacts. These new contacts were targeted with mass email blasts, direct emails, and phone outreach throughout the year to encourage them to take advantage of QWEL training opportunities.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California earned its second WaterSense Award for Excellence in Certification Program Growth as it continued to certify more professionals through the Water Efficient Landscaper Dual Certification Program (WELDCP). This program allows landscape professionals to receive two certifications simultaneously–the California Landscape Contractors Association’s water manager and QWEL. Metropolitan offers landscapers free training and certification on irrigation systems and care of water-wise gardens, reaching small and large landscaping companies as well as individual landscapers, while helping the public hire certified professional contractors. Metropolitan began offering classes in both English and Spanish to broaden its reach. In 2023, 246 landscape professionals attended a WELDCP class, compared to 88 in 2022. Of those, 149 became certified irrigation professionals, a 96 percent increase compared to 2022. In addition, 100 percent of the professionals who earned their QWEL certification through Metropolitan in 2022 renewed their certification in 2023. Metropolitan lists WELDCP-certified professionals online at bewaterwise.com.

EXCELLENCE IN NEW BUILDER PARTNERSHIP

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

Thanks to their outstanding contributions as a new WaterSense partner in 2023, Beazer Homes USA, Inc., earned their first WaterSense Award for Excellence in New Builder Partnership. Beazer built 39 WaterSense labeled homes in 2023 and now has two divisions, Phoenix and Sacramento, that have committed to building WaterSense labeled homes for 100 percent of the homes they build. Three additional divisions are working to incorporate WaterSense labeled homes into their markets as well. To ensure their customers save water, all Beazer homes, whether built to earn the WaterSense label or not, include WaterSense labeled toilets, bathroom faucets, and showerheads. To educate all their employees, Beazer’s national sales trainers created presentation slides that detail the benefits of WaterSense labeled homes for both Beazer and their customers. They also rolled out in-depth training highlighting WaterSense labeled homes for Beazer sales, marketing, and operations teams.

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND PROMOTING WATERSENSE LABELED PRODUCTS

Marin Municipal Water District

Thanks to their continued water-saving efforts, Marin (California) Municipal Water District (Marin Water) received their second WaterSense Award for Excellence in Education and Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products. During Fix a Leak Week in March 2023, Marin Water encouraged customers to identify toilet leaks by participating in the Sonoma-Marin Water Saving Partnership’s Dye Tab Challenge. The Partnership gave out $25 gift cards to five customers for testing their toilets and submitting results, while also providing them with information on available rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets. In the spring, Marin Water helped train future Marin Master Gardeners on sustainable gardening practices, including water-efficient irrigation equipment and management, simple leak detection, and teaching students to look for the WaterSense label as a way to recognize efficient irrigation controllers. Marin Water made it easier for customers to save money on WaterSense labeled fixtures by issuing nearly 200 rebates on WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers and nearly 20 rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets.

EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING WATERSENSE

Utah Division of Water Resources

Earning their second WaterSense Award, the Utah Division of Water Resources has been recognized this year for Excellence in WaterSense Promotion. The Division manages a state-wide rebate program for WaterSense labeled toilets and weather-based irrigation controllers, and in 2023, they issued nearly 600 rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets and over 3,000 WaterSense labeled controller rebates. Since these incentive programs launched in 2018 and 2019, Utah has rebated more than 4,000 WaterSense labeled toilets and nearly 30,000 WaterSense labeled controllers! To further increase awareness of WaterSense, Utah Division of Water Resources supports the Utah Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification program, by encouraging program participation from industry professionals, recommending homeowners hire QWEL certified professionals, and stressing the importance of landscape irrigation audits. Residents are encouraged to participate in a landscape irrigation audit, offered throughout the state by districts, municipalities, and Utah State University’s Water Check Program.

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