,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agjj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #b1 #bjag ,mr4 ,udall 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,portman1 ,mr4 ,peters1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,graham1 ,mr4 ,gardner1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,franken1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 and ,mr4 ,alexander7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act to establish a ,water,sense program within the ,enivronmental ,protection ,agency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,water ,efficiency ,improvement ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,water,sense 7a7 ,in general ,part ,b of title ,,iii of the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act is amended by adding after section #cbd;,a 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbid;a7 the following3 #cbd;,b4 ,water,sense 7a7 ,establishment of ,water,sense program 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency a voluntary ,water,sense program to identify and promote water-efficient products1 buildings and building landscapes1 facilities1 processes1 and services that1 through voluntary labeling of1 or other forms of communications regarding1 products1 buildings and building landscapes1 facilities1 processes1 and services while meeting strict performance criteria1 sensibly-- 7,a7 reduce water use2 7,b7 reduce the strain on public and community water systems and wastewater and stormwater infrastructure2 7,c7 conserve energy used to pump1 heat1 transport1 and treat water2 and 7,d7 preserve water resources for future generations4 7#b7 ,inclusions ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7referred to in this section as the ,administrator7 shall1 consistent with this section1 identify water-efficient products1 buildings and building landscapes1 facilities1 processes1 and services1 including categories such as-- 7,a7 irrigation technologies and services2 7,b7 point-of-use water treatment devices2 7,c7 plumbing products2 7,d7 reuse and recycling technologies2 7,e7 landscaping and gardening products1 including moisture control or water-enhancing technologies2 7,f7 whole house humidifiers2 and 7,g7 water-efficient buildings or facilities1 and building or facility landscapes4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,administrator1 coordinating as appropriate with the ,secretary1 shall-- 7#a7 establish-- 7,a7 a ,water,sense label to be used for items meeting the certification criteria established in accordance with this section2 and 7,b7 the procedure1 including the methods and means1 and criteria by which an item may be certified to display the ,water,sense label1 minimizing unintended or negative impacts to wastewater treatment works1 recycled water quality1 or water quality in receiving water2 7#b7 enhance public awareness regarding the ,water,sense label through outreach1 education1 and other means2 7#c7 preserve the integrity of the ,water,sense label by-- 7,a7 establishing and maintaining feasible performance criteria so that products1 buildings and building landscapes1 facilities1 processes1 and services labeled with the ,water,sense label perform as well or better than less water-efficient counterparts2 7,b7 overseeing ,water,sense certifications made by third parties2 7,c7 as determined appropriate by the ,administrator1 using testing protocols1 from the appropriate1 applicable1 and relevant consensus standards1 for the purpose of determining standards compliance2 and 7,d7 auditing the use of the ,water,sense label in the marketplace and preventing cases of misuse2 7#d7 not more often than #f years but not less often than #aj years after adoption or major revision of any ,water,sense specification1 review and1 if appropriate1 revise the specification to achieve additional water savings2 7#e7 in revising a ,water,sense specification-- 7,a7 provide reasonable notice to interested parties and the public of any changes1 including effective dates1 and an explanation of the changes2 7,b7 solicit comments from interested parties and the public prior to any changes2 7,c7 as appropriate1 respond to comments submitted by interested parties and the public2 and 7,d7 provide an appropriate transition time prior to the applicable effective date of any changes1 taking into account the timing necessary for the manufacture1 marketing1 training1 and distribution of the specific water-efficient product1 building and building landscape1 process1 or service category being addressed2 7#f7 use1 to the extent that an agency action is based on science-- 7,a7 the best available peer-reviewed science and supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices2 and 7,b7 data collected by accepted methods or best available methods 7if the reliability of the method and the nature of the decision justifies use of the data72 and 7#g7 not later than ,december #ca1 #bjbb1 consider for review and revision any ,water,sense specification adopted before ,january #a1 #bjab4 7c7 ,transparency ,the ,administrator shall1 to the maximum extent practicable and not less than annually1 regularly estimate and make available to the public the estimate aggregate production1 aggregate market penetration1 and savings of water1 energy1 and capital costs of water1 wastewater1 and stormwater attributable to the use of ,water,sense-labeled products1 buildings and building landscapes1 facilities1 processes1 and services4 7d7 ,distinction of authorities ,in setting or maintaining specifications for ,energy ,star pursuant to section #cbd;,a1 and ,water,sense under this section1 the ,secretary and ,administrator shall coordinate to prevent duplicative or conflicting requirements among the respective programs4 7e7 ,no warranty ,a ,water,sense label shall not create an express or implied warranty4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,the table of contents for the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 prec4 #fbja7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cbd;,a the following3 ,sec4 #cbd;,b4 ,water,sense4 4