There are significant environmental, consumer, and energy savings benefits which result from water conservation standards. As a provision of the House energy bill, Representatives Chet Atkins (D, MA-5), Wayne Owens (D, UT-1), and Michael Bilirakis (R, FL-9) offered an amendment to require the Department of Energy to set national performance standards for plumbing fixtures. The standards established in the amendment are based upon existing voluntary industry standards. Industry will continue to have the principal role in setting new standards.

Standards for shower heads, faucets, toilets, and related plumbing fixtures will save energy by reducing the volume of water that must be heated, pumped, transported, and treated. These standards will save a total of $15 billion and 2.7 quadrillion BTUs cumulatively from 1993 - 2010. The addition of these products complements the very successful appliance efficiency standards program established in 1987 and expanded in the current energy bill, H.R. 776.

The vote is on the Atkins-Owens-Bilirakis amendment for plumbing efficiency standards. The amendment was adopted 328 - 79 on May 20, 1992. YES is the pro-environment vote.