(June 5, 2025)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, established in 2006, is a voluntary initiative designed to promote water efficiency across residential, commercial and institutional sectors. WaterSense certifies both indoor products like plumbing fixtures and outdoor products like irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies. By certifying products, homes and professional services that meet rigorous performance and water-saving criteria, WaterSense helps consumers identify options that use at least 20% less water than standard models — without sacrificing performance. WaterSense also strengthens the professional landscape through its labeled certification programs for irrigation professionals, recognizing individuals who meet EPA-endorsed criteria for efficient irrigation auditing, design and system management. .
Equally important, the program offers a uniform foundation for state and local agencies to design rebate programs, adopt codes and set performance requirements, helping to avoid a confusing patchwork of inconsistent state and local standards. For example, the Irrigation Association and its members have been pointing to WaterSense as the preferred approach for irrigation controller requirements under consideration by the California Energy Commission and for the work in Colorado to implement a state law requiring WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers. For more details on this work, see “Updates on state irrigation controller requirements.”
To further address outdoor water use, the EPA initiated the development of a specification for high-efficiency spray sprinkler nozzles. A draft specification was released in November 2023 to establish performance thresholds for nozzles that could earn the WaterSense label. However, in January 2025, the EPA announced a pause in the development of this specification. The agency cited the need for additional review, stakeholder engagement and alignment with evolving market and regulatory dynamics. The IA is starting a conversation among interested stakeholders on the process and approach for developing a voluntary consensus standard for high-efficiency nozzles, both spray and multi-stream, multi-trajectory nozzles.
It is also important to note that recent executive action focused on revising water efficiency standards for indoor plumbing fixtures — such as toilets and showerheads — do not affect irrigation products. So far actions by the new administration have not directly affected WaterSense’s work on outdoor irrigation products and have had only limited impacts on WaterSense’s overall outdoor programming.
WaterSense forms the cornerstone of landscape irrigation efficiency, and the I A plans to continue finding ways to use, build on and shape it to meet the needs of industry and consumers to save water with high-performing products and services.
(June 3, 2025)
The Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act, introduced in March 2025, seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code to exclude water conservation rebates from federal taxable income. This bipartisan legislation — led by Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Blake Moore (R-UT) in the House (H.R. 1871) and Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) in the Senate (S. 857) — aims to give water conservation the same federal tax treatment as energy efficiency incentives, which are currently nontaxable. The bill builds on past efforts, reflecting a growing recognition in Congress of the need to promote responsible water use through supportive tax policy.
Homeowners who install water-saving technologies stand to benefit directly. By eliminating the federal tax burden on conservation rebates, the legislation makes it more affordable for families to upgrade to efficient irrigation equipment and landscaping practices. The policy particularly helps communities in drought-prone regions and low-income households that are often discouraged by additional tax liabilities tied to conservation investments.
The irrigation industry has a strong stake in the success of this legislation. By expanding the use of water-efficient technologies, the Act has the potential to drive growth in demand for smart irrigation controllers, high-efficiency nozzles and other water-saving products. It also provides a clearer and more consistent framework for utility rebate programs across states, helping avoid the confusion of inconsistent tax treatment. This encourages greater innovation and adoption of advanced water-saving solutions in both residential and commercial landscapes.
Since its introduction, new cosponsors have joined in the House [Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Rep, Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3), and Rep Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25)] and two new cosponsors have joined in the Senate [Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)].
As of May 2025, both versions of the bill have been referred to their respective committees: the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance. The IA strongly supports the Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act and continues to advocate for its passage.