By HRCNN – Hampton Roads Construction News Network Staff Writer
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has quietly suspended its annual WaterSense Awards for 2025, leaving water efficiency advocates and industry partners without one of the nation’s most visible platforms for recognizing leadership in conservation. The decision, confirmed in an email from Acting WaterSense Program Manager Veronica Blette, has sparked uncertainty about the future of the program’s recognition initiatives.
For more than a decade, the WaterSense Awards have been a cornerstone of EPA’s efforts to highlight best practices in water efficiency. Utilities, builders, manufacturers, and nonprofits competed annually for recognition, with winners often leveraging the award to strengthen partnerships, market products, or demonstrate compliance with sustainability standards. The pause in 2025 raises concerns that the momentum built around conservation recognition may be losing ground at a critical moment.
In her communication, Blette explained that the decision stemmed from “program resource constraints” and the need to reassess priorities. She emphasized that the WaterSense label itself remains unchanged, and that EPA continues to view water efficiency as a national priority. Still, the suspension of awards creates a vacuum in industry acknowledgment, at a time when communities face mounting challenges from drought, flooding, and climate-driven water stress.
The WaterSense program, established in 2006, has long served as a voluntary but highly influential label for plumbing fixtures, appliances, and homes that meet strict efficiency standards. Over the years, award recognition extended beyond products, showcasing the leadership of local governments and builders in advancing water-smart development. By putting the awards on hold, EPA is signaling that recognition may take a back seat to maintaining core labeling and verification functions.
Industry response has been cautious but concerned. Builders and manufacturers note that awards offered more than prestige—they provided a competitive edge in demonstrating commitment to conservation. For utilities and municipalities, WaterSense Awards were often used to highlight partnerships and validate public investments in efficiency programs. Without this recognition, stakeholders may struggle to maintain visibility for initiatives that save both water and money.
For Hampton Roads, where sea-level rise and stormwater management remain pressing concerns, the suspension lands at an awkward time. Regional utilities and builders have increasingly turned to WaterSense specifications as part of their strategy for resilience. The loss of a high-profile award program reduces opportunities to showcase local innovation in water stewardship, even as demand for such solutions continues to grow.
EPA has not announced whether the WaterSense Awards will return in 2026. For now, industry professionals are left to navigate without the recognition program that, for nearly two decades, helped set benchmarks for leadership. Whether the pause proves temporary or permanent, the change underscores a broader truth: as water challenges mount nationwide, the need for innovation and accountability in conservation is greater than ever.
About HRCNN
The Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) provides independent coverage of infrastructure, housing, zoning, and environmental policy across Virginia. By highlighting the intersection of local development and national regulatory shifts, HRCNN delivers fact-driven reporting for industry professionals, policymakers, and the communities they serve.