Bathroom Faucets
Most of us know we can save water if we turn off the tap while brushing our teeth (as much as 3,000 gallons per year!), but did you know that there are products that will help save water when you turn on the tap too? WaterSense labeled faucets and faucet accessories (such as aerators) are high–performing, water–efficient fixtures that will help you reduce water use in your home and save money on water bills. By retrofitting your entire bathroom with WaterSense labeled fixtures, you can save even more.
Faucet Flows
WaterSense labeled bathroom sink faucets and accessories that use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute can reduce a sink's water flow by 30 percent or more from the standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute without sacrificing performance. We could save billions of gallons nationwide each year by retrofitting bathroom sink faucets with models that have earned the WaterSense label.
All products bearing the WaterSense label complete an independent certification process to ensure they meet EPA criteria. Faucets and faucet accessories—products that can be attached easily to existing faucets to save water—that obtain the WaterSense label have demonstrated both water efficiency and the ability to provide ample flow.
Look for the WaterSense Label
Whether replacing an older, inefficient faucet that's wasting water and money, or simply looking for options to reduce water use in your home, choose a WaterSense labeled bathroom sink faucet or aerator. WaterSense labeled models are available at a wide variety of price points and a broad range of styles and in many areas, utilities offer rebates and vouchers that can lower the price even further. The next time you wash your hands or brush your teeth, you'll know that you're doing your part to help protect our precious water resources.
A WaterSense Labeled Bathroom Faucet Factsheet (1 pp, 308K, About PDF) is also available in PDF.
WaterSense Savings
Replacing old, inefficient faucets and aerators with WaterSense labeled models can save the average family 700 gallons of water per year, equal to the amount of water needed to take 40 showers. Also, since these water savings reduce demands on water heaters, households will also save enough energy to run a hairdryer 10 minutes a day for a year. Achieving these savings can be as easy as twisting on a WaterSense labeled aerator, which can cost as little as a few dollars.
If every home in the United States replaced existing faucets and aerators with WaterSense labeled models, we could save nearly $1.2 billion in water and energy costs and 64 billion gallons of water across the country annually—equivalent to the annual household water needs of more than 680,000 American homes.
Specification
EPA released a final specification on October 1, 2007, for bathroom sink faucets and faucet accessories (e.g., aerators).
- High-Efficiency Lavatory Faucet Specification (PDF) (3 pp, 61K, About PDF)
- High-Efficiency Lavatory Faucet Supporting Statement (PDF) (8 pp, 95K, About PDF)
For more information about the faucet specification process, including the draft specification, public response to the draft specification, EPA's response to the public comments, and questions and answers, please see High-Efficiency Lavatory (Bathroom Sink) Faucet Specification Background Materials page.
Manufacturers that produce faucets and aerators meeting EPA's efficiency and performance criteria can apply to have their products certified to earn the WaterSense label. Before submitting products for testing, manufacturers must have a partnership agreement with EPA in place. Visit the manufacturer section on the partner page to learn more.