United States                Office of Water         EPA832-F-00-011
                      Environmental Protection i       (4204)               July 2000
                      Agency             j                           www.epa.gov/owm/genwave.htm
v>EPA         Frequently Asked Questions
                      About  U.S. EPA's Voluntary
                      Water-Efficiency  Program
   Water Alliances For
   Voluntary Efficiency
                      What is WAVE?
                      WAVE (Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency) is a non-regulatory water-efficiency partner-
                      ship created and supported by U.S. EPA. WAVE'S mission is to encourage commercial busi-
                      nesses and institutions to reduce water consumption while increasing efficiency, profitabili-
                      ty, and competitiveness,,


                      Why did EPA create this program?
                      WAVE is part of EPA's long-term effort to prevent pollution and reduce demands on the
                      nation's water and energy resources. As supplies shrink and demands rise, competition
                      among industrial, agricultural, and domestic users for available water is increasing. Through
                      WAVE and other programs, EPA seeks to ensure that adequate U.S. water resources remain
                      available to support both human and environmental needs.

                      Can joining  WAVE actually benefit the environment?
                      Yes. WAVE helps protect the environment and sustain wildlife habitats by reducing water
                      use, wastewater discharges and energy use. Less wastewater and reduced  consumption
                      means less energy is needed to heat, pump, and process water. This, in turn, helps cut pol-
                      luting emissions from power plants. The commercial/institutional sectors could potentially
                      save about 1.3 billion gallons of water per day, equivalent to that used by  four million
                      homes, by installing water-efficient equipment. Electricity savings resulting from reduced
                      water use would be about 11 million kilowatt-hours per day, enough to meet the needs of
                      400,000 homes.


                      How many types  of WAVE memberships are there?
                      Two: Partners and Supporters. Partners include lodging establishments, office buildings, and
                      educational institutions. Any water service company, equipment supplier/manufacturer, gov-
                      ernment agency, or water/wastewater utility may become a Supporter.

                      After joining, what then?
                      New members sign a Membership Agreement, agreeing to survey water-using equipment, and
                      where profitable, install water-efficient upgrades Within a pre-arranged time frame. Members
                      a*S° agree to consider using water-efficient equipment in the design of all new facilities.
                      Program results are reported to EPA annually.

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What support will 1 receive?
EPA is committed taEelp'ing'aii'"WAVEl members publicize their water efficiency programs:
Support includes nationwide public service advertising and press releases. Members also receive
free water management software and technical support.
How much can I eacpeet to  save?
Water-efficiency measures, like those proposed by WAVE, can reduce water and sewer costs up to
30 percent. Significant savings in energy, chemical, and maintenance expenses are also possible.
The typical payback period is less than two  years.
Who else has joined WAVE?
WAVE'S participants represent some of the lodging industry's most recognizable names, including
Westin, Hyatt, ITT Sheraton, Outrigger, La Quinta Hotels," and Accor Economy Lodging which
owns Motel 6, Studio 6 and Red Roof Inns. Collectively WAVE Lodging Partners control almost
1,800 U.S. hotel properties and almost 339,000 guest rooms, Columbia University in the City of
New York and the University of Hawaii at Hilo were^^g^p;..jg^sHp jom WAVE as Educational
Partners.                                          ''''' ^ „,'"'"'"'""' "' "I" i" !"T".'	"""""'..      ,  	",	, i,'	  ['
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 How do  1  Join?
 For more information, please call 202 260-7288. You can also write to: WAVE! frogranj^pirectpj:,
 U.S. EPA (4204), Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue; NW, Washington, DC 20460; or
 visit our Web site at-.
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