August 17, 2017
By Peggy Kurtz and Gale Pisha
Water Activists, Lower Hudson Group
At a time when environmental protection seems under non-stop assault in Trump’s Washington, it is critically important for New York and other states to take leadership.
On July 13, New York took one significant step forward on water conservation with a decision which will reduce both water and energy use statewide. The NYS Fire Prevention and Building Code Council voted to adopt the EPA’s WaterSense standards for indoor fixtures (including toilets and showerheads), thus ensuring that all new construction will be water efficient. Other states that have adopted some or all of these standards include Georgia, Texas, and California, as well as New York City.
Most ironic is the fact that this nationwide movement to adopt WaterSense standards comes at a time when the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the very successful WaterSense program entirely (along with Energy Star), despite widespread support for both programs by manufacturers and by consumer and environmental advocates.
Sierra Club activists were able to work together with the Water Program of the Natural Resources Defense Council, building on years of work by NRDC attorney Larry Levine. Sierra Club helped by mobilizing public pressure for the change, with petitions and letters of support by groups and state legislators, tapping into the power of our statewide network of activists on water issues.
For Rockland County activists, who have been advocating for years for water policy based on conservation instead of energy intensive desalination, this was a real victory for the environment, a moment when we saw our work make a difference statewide.
In fact, one small change in building code makes a big difference when multiplied statewide. The new standard will save both water and energy without increased costs, since WaterSense products are widely available at no greater cost than less efficient models. WaterSense certified products are 20 percent more water-efficient than standard models. The EPA estimates that the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in costs per year by replacing old toilets with WaterSense certified models (https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts).
The new standards will conserve not only water resources, but also energy and costs all along the water cycle, from pumping to hot water heating to wastewater treatment. Water efficiency will also help delay the need for sewage infrastructure expansion and will protect our rivers by reducing sewage overflows.
Recent droughts in the Northeast have raised awareness of the longer droughts and increased runoff predicted due to climate change. As water becomes an increasingly critical issue in the 21st century, water conservation will take on new importance. Despite the bad environmental news from Washington, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter members should be proud that together we helped achieve this important change to save water, energy and money.
Rockland Sierra Club (part of Lower Hudson Group) is working collaboratively with Rockland/NJ 350.org on climate change issues and continues our work on water issues. To get involved, email rocklandclimatemarch@gmail.com or call 845-358-3386. You can also learn more at www.rocklandsierraclub.org.
To become involved at the Chapter level, you can contact the Chapter’s Water Committee Chair, Ann Finneran, at seafins@icloud.com, Chapter Conservation Chair Kate Bartholomew at ecogreenwolf@gmail.com, or the Chapter staff directly at atlantic.chapter@sierraclub.org. These contacts will also be able to put you in contact with you local Group and any actions or campaigns occurring at the Group level.