We received a LEED comment on a residential project where we installed flow restrictors to reduce the faucet flow rate to 0.5 gpm. The 1.5 gpm flow restrictor is WS labelled but the installed 0.5 gpm flow restrictor is not. If WS labels pertain to water efficiency, wouldn't a lower flow restrictor of the same make and model fixture be WS labelled by association?
Has anyone run into this problem of more aggressive flow restrictors not being WS labelled, while the higher flow of the same flow restrictor IS WaterSense labelled?
Kristen Dotson
Senior Program Manager, Sustainable Buildings, WWSAmazon
8 thumbs up
November 4, 2019 - 5:42 pm
I asked a similar question about a showerhead; it had a flow rate under 2.0gpm but was not WaterSense labeled. The response I got was that WaterSense is about user satisfaction in addition to performance, so I guess it's trying to prevent user complaints about low-flow fixtures? I can see how that could be an issue, but for something like a lav aerator, I don't know how many people would actually notice the lower flow anyway.
I just looked on the WaterSense website and there are no faucets or faucet aerators listed at less than 1.0gpm (which is probably why the LEED reference guide only requires WaterSense for private lavs with a 2.2gpm baseline). Could you find a WaterSense labeled 1.0gpm aerator and still meet your reduction threshold for the points? Not great, I know, but not sure what else you could do.
David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED SpecialistSERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1980 thumbs up
November 4, 2019 - 7:48 pm
The WaterSense specification for residential sink faucets has a minimum flow rate of 0.8 gpm, (and a maximum of 1.5 gpm) which is higher than the maximum flow of 0.5 gpm for commercial restroom faucets. The Watersense literature describes their goal is to promote "both water efficiency and the ability to provide ample flow." So a 0.5 aerator brings the faucet below the acceptable flow rates of a WS labeled fixture. There are WS labeled aerators available.
The 0.5 gpm or lower requirement makes more sense in In commercial settings as there's often a recirculating loop or point-of-use hot water heater, and more frequent use, so there's less potential for long delays in receiving hot water. But in residential settings, one drawback to super-low-flow faucets is the potential longer delay in receiving hot water at the fixture, which can sometimes lead to increased water use and user complaints.
There's an in-depth explanation of the commercial vs residential requirements at:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-01/documents/ws-products-support-statement-faucets.pdf
Nicole Isle
Chief Sustainability StrategistGlumac
February 10, 2020 - 2:50 pm
Hi, do you have an update of how you responded to this comment? We're facing a similar issue.
Jasmin Rajak
FluorMay 5, 2020 - 9:29 am
Hi,
Seems like I am having similar issues with a California project. Lavatory chosen is 0.35gpm but has Water Efficiency on the cutsheet rather than WaterSense. Will this be accepted give that the manufacturer has been recognised by EPA Watersense its products. Hard to explain the need for another product when one which already has a low gpm has been chosen. Can a case be made for this when submitting documentation?
Further, will a urinal with a flushometer be exempt from being WaterSense compliant similar to a watercloset with a flushometer?
Thanks.