The International Code Council and its Family of Companies have several resources available to assist jurisdictions, manufacturers and the public with critical water issues in California and Washington and the western region of the United States.
On April 1, 2015, California Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order to further implement mandatory water reductions, calling for updated standards for toilets and faucets and outdoor landscaping in residential communities and taking action against jurisdictions that ignore the standards. On April 17, 2015, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued a drought emergency for nearly half of the usually damp state, with officials saying the entire state could be classified as drought-stricken by early May.
ICC works with key industry organizations to develop standards that address critical water usage issues, including landscape irrigation sprinklers and rainwater harvesting systems, and recently announced a partnership with RESNET in the development of the Water Efficiency Rating Index.
ICC also is a partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program. Products and services that earn the WaterSense label with the ICC Evaluation Service certification mark are certified to be at least 20 percent more water efficient without sacrificing performance.
The International Plumbing Code, published by ICC, incorporates innovative technologies including waterless urinals and detailed engineered designs that permit the installation of smaller, more precise water usage and water drainage systems, resulting in the savings of millions of gallons of water. The International Green Construction Code (IgCC) also contains provisions for the collection, treatment, and storage and use of non-potable water in the form of onsite collected rainwater and graywater, and externally treated reclaimed water supplied to the site.
“Increased water efficiency is an important aspect of sustainability,” said ICC Board of Directors president Guy Tomberlin, CBO. “ICC is committed to working with our member jurisdictions and industry partners to bring water efficient products to market, labeling new homes as WaterSense compliant, and spreading the word about the need for smart water use.”
