The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently recognized the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department’s Water Conservation Office with a 2018 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award for its creative approach to supporting WaterSense and promoting water efficiency in 2017. The ACC Water Conservation Office received one of 21 WaterSense awards at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas on October 4, 2018.

The ACC Water Conservation Office was honored as a 2018 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award winner for distributing more than 250 WaterSense labeled showerheads, 500 kitchen faucet aerators, and 500 bathroom faucet aerators. Utility customers were encouraged to “Take the 10 Minute WaterSense Challenge” by following a simple checklist included in their water bill. The office also expanded its outreach efforts, reaching over 9,000 residents through events, school visits, tours, workshops, and festivals.

“We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to create a water-efficient Athens-Clarke County," says Laurie Loftin, ACC Water Conservation Office Coordinator. "By simply installing a WaterSense product, a household reduces their water use without any additional behavior change. WaterSense makes it so easy for our residents to reduce water use.”

Since 2006, the ACC Water Conservation Office and more than 1,900 other WaterSense partners have helped consumers save more than 2.7 trillion gallons of water, or more than the amount used by all U.S. households for nearly 100 days. In addition to water savings, WaterSense labeled products and homes have helped reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, pump, and treat water by 367 billion kilowatt hours – which is enough to power more than 34.1 million homes for a year – and save $63.8 billion in water and energy bills.

"Through innovation and commitment, our partners are helping to transform the marketplace for water-efficient, high-performing products and homes," said Veronica Blette, WaterSense program manager. "The WaterSense Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence Award winners are leading the charge to save water, energy, and money for future generations."