ertification  Programs  for
                                     Irrigation  Professionals
                                    EPA
                                    WaterSense
         Commercial and residential outdoor water use in
         the United States accounts for more than 7
         billion gallons of water each day, mainly
    for landscape irrigation. As much as half of that is lost
    or wasted due to evaporation, wind, or improper irri-
    gation design, installation, and maintenance. As part
    of an overall effort to improve national water efficien-
    cy, WaterSense8, a program sponsored by the U.S.
    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is labeling
    certification programs for landscape irrigation  profes-
    sionals that advance the principles and applications
    of water-efficient irrigation.
   WaterSense Labeled
   Certification Programs
   for Irrigation
   Professionals
    Programs that earn the WaterSense label have met
    several criteria to ensure rigorous testing and certifi-
    cation processes that accurately assess professional
    competency in designing, installing, maintaining, or
    auditing water-efficient irrigation systems. To qualify
    for the label, programs must evaluate proficiency
    through examinations and be subject to independ-
    ent oversight.

    WaterSense only labels programs that certify
    experienced irrigation system design, installation/
    maintenance, and auditing professionals. Certified
    professionals must confirm their ability to assess
    critical soil/water/plant relationships and resulting
    impacts on irrigation system efficiency. They must
    also renew their certification periodically to confirm
    their qualifications and demonstrate awareness of
    recent innovations and technology developments.
EPA
WaterSense
             PARTMER
WaterSense labeled
certification programs ver-
ify professional proficiency
in water-efficient irrigation
system design, installation
and maintenance, and
performance audits. Landscape irrigation profession-
als who are certified by a WaterSense labeled pro-
gram can signify their commitment to promoting
water-efficient landscape watering systems by
becoming a WaterSense partner.

Irrigation System Design
Irrigation design professionals with a WaterSense
labeled certification can tailor irrigation systems
to the surrounding landscape and local climate
conditions.

Irrigation System Installation/Maintenance
Installation and maintenance professionals with a
WaterSense labeled certification are capable of
selecting the appropriate equipment, site layout,
and proper scheduling for optimal irrigation system
performance.

Irrigation System Audits
Audits conducted by irrigation system professionals
with a WaterSense labeled certification can identify
systems that are distributing water unequally or inef-
ficiently and determine how to improve performance.

What to Look for
When seeking irrigation services, ask for professionals
who are WaterSense partners or certified by
WaterSense labeled programs. In the future, look for
the WaterSense label on water-efficient products and
programs that meet EPA criteria. For more informa-
tion, visit .
Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper.
                                       October 2006
                                    EPA-832-F-06-017

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