EPA Targets Water Gardens as Part of Conservation Plan
A federal initiative to promote outdoor water efficiency could throw cold water on homeowners’ ability to install ornamental water features, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington) and the National Association of Pond Professionals (Epworth, Ga.).
A recently released draft specification for water-efficient single-family homes issued by the Environmental Protection Agency would bar homebuilders from installing or facilitating the installation of ornamental water features. Any new home built with these features would not be eligible for WaterSense certification.
The WaterSense program is voluntary, but could one day become mandatory, PIJAC warned.
The EPA defines ornamental water features as “fountains, ponds, waterfalls, man-made streams and other decorative water-related constructions provided solely for aesthetic or beautification purposes.”
Further, the EPA states that such features serve “no functional or practical purpose” and their water use is considered non-efficient.
PIJAC counters that outdoor gardens provide habitat and resources for native species as well as emotional and psychological benefits to homeowners. “Also, the EPA’s proposal states that the environmental impact of the residential sector is significant, which may be true in some instances, but ornamental water features hardly play a large role in this factor.”
aunched in 2006, WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the EPA to promote water-efficient products, programs and practices. It previously issued specifications for high-efficiency toilets and bathroom sinks, for example. Products must be certified to earn an EPA WaterSense label. [September 2008 PET AGE]
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