Water Sense
WaterSenseŽ Draft Specification for Homes
Version 2.0
April 18, 2019

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Water Sense
WaterSenseŽ Draft Specification for Homes
WaterSense Draft Specification for Homes
1.0 Scope and Objective
This specification establishes the criteria for water-efficient homes (both single-family and
multifamily, new and existing construction) under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA's) WaterSense program.
A home must be built by a WaterSense builder partner and meet all of the criteria outlined in this
specification to become a WaterSense labeled home.
The intent of this specification is to reduce water usage in residential homes, thereby lowering
consumers' utility bills and encouraging water and wastewater infrastructure savings. The EPA's
goal is that WaterSense labeled homes will be at least 30 percent more water-efficient than
typical new homes.
This specification is not intended to contravene state or local codes and requirements. All
homes, landscapes and irrigation systems shall meet all applicable national, state and local
regulations. In addition, plumbing and irrigation installers shall meet all applicable state and
local licensing requirements.
2.0 Technical Requirements
1.1	The home shall meet all requirements indicated in Appendix B: Mandatory
Checklist for WaterSense Labeled Homes.
1.2	The home shall be at least 30 percent more water-efficient than typical new
construction, determined through compliance with a WaterSense Approved
Certification Method (WACM), as described in the WaterSense Home
Certification System, Version 2.0.
3.0 Future Specification Revisions
The EPA reserves the right to revise this specification should technological and/or market
changes affect its usefulness to consumers, industry or the environment. Industry partners and
other interested parties will be notified in advance of anticipated changes. Revisions to the
specification will be made following discussions with industry partners and other interested
parties.
4.0 Definitions
Definitions within the WaterSense Home Certification System, Version 2.0 are included by
reference.
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Water Sense	WaterSenseŽ Draft Specification for Homes
Appendix A: Informative Annex for WaterSense Labeling
The following requirements must be met before a home may earn the WaterSense label.
WaterSense Partnership
The homebuilder must have a signed partnership agreement in place with the EPA.
Conformity Assessment
Conformance to this specification must be certified by a Home Certification Organization (HCO)
or HCO designee in accordance with the WaterSense Home Certification System, Version 2.0.
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epa	WaterSenseŽ Draft Specification for Homes
WaterSense	version 2.0
Appendix B: Mandatory Checklist for WaterSense Labeled Homes
The following requirements within the Mandatory Checklist for WaterSense Labeled Homes
(Mandatory Checklist) must be met before a home may earn the WaterSense label, regardless
of the features used to meet the efficiency requirement specified in Section 2.2 of the
WaterSense Specification for Homes, Version 2.0 or the WaterSense Approved Certification
Method under which the home is pursuing certification.
The Mandatory Checklist is intended to ensure that all WaterSense labeled homes contain a
minimum set of features that assure quality performance (the degree to which a home meets
the user's expectations relative to these features in typical construction), in addition to efficiency
(the amount of water a home uses relative to comparable typical construction).
Mandatory Checklist for WaterSense Labeled Homes
Item
Requirements
Confirmed
Leaks
Pressure-loss test on all water supplies detects no leaks
~ Yes ~ No
Free of visible leaks from hot water delivery system
~ Yes ~ No
Free of visible leaks from toilet(s), as determined through
visual assessment and by conducting a dye tablet test in
each toilet to ensure the flapper is not leaking
~ Yes ~ No
Free of visible leaks from bathroom faucet(s)
~ Yes ~ No
Free of visible leaks from showerhead(s)
~ Yes ~ No
Free of visible leaks from bathroom tub faucet(s), i.e., tub
spout(s), when showerhead(s) is activated, as determine
through visual assessment after showerhead has been
activated for one minute
~ Yes ~ No
Free of visible leaks from kitchen and other sink faucet(s)
~ Yes ~ No
Free of visible leaks from other fixtures or appliances
(e.g., clothes washers, dishwashers, hose bibs, irrigation
systems) at point of use or point of connection to water
distribution system
~ Yes ~ No
Toilets
WaterSense labeled*
~ Yes ~ No
Bathroom sink
faucets
WaterSense labeled*
~ Yes ~ No
Showerheads
WaterSense labeled*
~ Yes ~ No
* A listing of WaterSense labeled toilets, bathroom sink faucets and showerheads can be found at:
www.epa.gov/watersense/product-search.
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