(ATLANTA – October 18, 2021) The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District) received their fourth WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 7 at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, NV. This is the seventh consecutive year the EPA has recognized the Metro Water District for promoting WaterSense and water efficiency.
Every year, the EPA recognizes WaterSense partner organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting water efficiency and strengthening the drought resiliency of communities across the country. More than 1,000 utilities, manufacturers, retailers, builders and organizations partner with WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the EPA that promotes water-efficient products, homes, and services. Very few are granted the Sustained Excellence Award, the highest distinction the program awards.
“We are honored to be selected for the fourth year in a row by the WaterSense program for the Sustained Excellence Award,” said Glenn Page, Chairman of the Metro Water District. “WaterSense-labeled products set a high standard for efficiency and provide the foundation for our successful water conservation programs like the Toilet Replacement Program.”
In 2021, the Metro Water District worked together with its 50+ water providers and regional partners on a range of programs to promote water conservation. These included: hosting a virtual Water Drop Dash 5K; creating a Fix a Leak Week digital activity for kids called Be a Leak Detective; promoting WaterSense labeled fixtures through a marketing partnership with Home Depot; promoting the replacement of inefficient toilet with WaterSense labeled toilet through the expanded Multifamily Toilet Rebate Program; and creating a series of billboards focused on water conservation through the summer and fall.
WaterSense has been instrumental in the Atlanta region’s efforts to reduce water use. The District’s efficiency requirements, innovative outreach events, and other successes in conservation and efficiency for the region have contributed to a reduction in per capita water use in metro Atlanta. Per capita demands have decreased by over 30 percent since the formation of the District in 2001.
“In 2020, our WaterSense partners continued to make saving water possible by educating consumers and businesses about WaterSense and water-efficient behaviors,” said Veronica Blette, the WaterSense program manager. “Our award winners’ creative and committed approaches to water conservation helped consumers save water, energy, and money on their utility bills at a time when they needed it most.”
###
About the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District)
The Metro Water District is dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific water resources plans to be implemented by local governments in the 15-county metro Atlanta region, which includes Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties. These plans conserve public water supplies, protect water quality and recreational values of the waters, and minimize potential adverse impacts of development on waters in and downstream of the region. Learn more at www.northgeorgiawater.org.
About WaterSense
WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering consumers and businesses simple ways to use less water with water-efficient products, homes, and services.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 73 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention and planning resources on key regional issues.