The irrigation industry welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency's Water Sense water efficiency labeling program, says Irrigation Association executive director Tom Kimmell.
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"Water efficiency is the keystone of the irrigation industry," Kimmell says. "The Water Sense label will provide independent confirmation for consumers who want products and services that make the best use of water. It will also raise awareness of the importance of water efficiency."
The EPA announced on June 12 that it has established Water Sense, a water efficiency program, and released its Water Sense logo, which will help consumers identify products and services that meet the program's criteria for each product category.
The Irrigation Association's Smart Water Application Technologies program, known as SWAT, has laid important groundwork for objective testing of climate-based "smart" controllers that irrigate based on climate and plant data, Kimmell says. SWAT developed a voluntary testing program for climate-based controllers, which have proven to provide tremendous water savings.
Certification of irrigation professionals is another important way to ensure efficient and effective use of water, Kimmell says. The IA has offered its Certification programs as a model for establishing high standards for professional irrigation certification. EPA said recognizing certification programs would be the first step for Water Sense.
The EPA announcement comes as the Irrigation Association prepares for Smart Irrigation Month in July, a time established to raise awareness of efficient irrigation products and practices.
