Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Draft Specification for Spray Sprinkler Bodies. The specification, intended for spray sprinkler bodies with integral pressure regulation, aims to reduce the water waste that occurs when irrigation systems receive water under higher pressure. The sprinkler body is the exterior shell that connects to the irrigation system piping and houses the spray nozzle. Some types of sprinkler bodies can control water pressure at the inlet to the nozzle.

EPA is adding sprinkler bodies to its suite of WaterSense^® labeled products to help residential and light commercial irrigation systems across the United States save water. In the future, installing WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies in an irrigation system operating at or above 60 pounds per square inch (psi) could save a household using 50,500 gallons of water per year on its landscape as much as 5,600 gallons of water annually. If every home in the United States with an irrigation system operating above recommended pressure installed spray sprinkler bodies with integral pressure regulation, we could save more than 31 billion gallons of water and nearly $320 million across the country each year.

EPA invites manufacturers, retailers, and distributors that produce or sell spray sprinkler bodies with integral pressure regulation to partner with WaterSense. Manufacturers that become WaterSense partners commit to labeling products that meet the final specification within one year of its release. Retailers and distributors are eligible for partnership if they sell publicly to customers without requiring installation or consulting services along with the products. WaterSense partners gain access to a free online suite of tools and resources to promote their partnership, WaterSense labeled products, and water efficiency in general.

Please visit the WaterSense website to learn how to join.

All interested parties are welcome to comment on the proposed requirements in the draft specification until January 31, 2017. Send any comments or suggestions to watersense-products@erg.com. EPA will hold a public meeting to discuss the draft specification via teleconference and webinar on January 18, 2017, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Please register to attend the webinar.

WaterSense will also hold an informal information session in the Oasis area of the Irrigation Show & Education Conference expo floor in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 7, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).

For more information on submitting comments, including the comment submission template and how to submit confidential business information, visit the WaterSense website.

If you have any questions about the draft specification, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or watersense@epa.gov.