Delta Faucet Company Showerheads Meet New WaterSense(R) Specification

INDIANAPOLIS, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Faucet Company announced today that more than 50 percent of its Delta® bath suites feature showerheads and handshowers that meet the latest specification introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense® program on March 5, 2010.(1) The new WaterSense criteria – established to promote water efficiency in the shower, product performance and quality – require that the showerhead flow at a rate of 2.0 gallons per minute (gpm) or less.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100310/CG68472)

In addition, the company will continue to gain showerhead and handshower certifications, with the expectation that by summer 2010, 80 percent of its bath suites will feature an option to meet WaterSense requirements. With more than half of Delta bath suites containing products meeting the new criteria, seven feature a showerhead with H2Okinetic Technology® that improves water efficiency by 40 percent, flowing at 1.5 gpm while providing the feel of an enhanced flow of 2.5 gpm.

"Delta strives to provide products that address today's water conservation concerns without sacrificing the comfort and convenience of the user experience. Our water-efficient showerheads featuring H2Okinetic Technology, for instance, use larger droplets to create a drenching sensation and luxurious shower experience, while using less water," said Paul Patton, senior product developer for Delta Faucet Company. "We take our role as a WaterSense partner very seriously and are committed to working with the EPA to encourage efficient use of water resources, and to actively protect the future of our nation's water supply."

In 2006, at the same time the EPA was initiating research on showerheads, Sally Remedios, manager of product compliance for Delta Faucet Company, approached the joint committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to establish a Joint Harmonization Task Force to evaluate showerhead efficiency and performance, with the intent of developing new performance standards.(2)

"As chair of the task force, my mission was to establish a set of criteria for showerheads that everyone would adhere to," said Remedios. "We opened the task force to public participation, which was comprised of showerhead manufacturers, water and energy utilities, testing laboratories, consultants and other water-efficiency and conservation specialists, including the California Energy Commission, which was pursuing new showerhead requirements at the time." In addition, the task force was able to engage with the EPA, which was developing its new WaterSense specification for showerheads, so that the adoption of harmonized requirements under both programs could benefit from the joint research.

According to the EPA, showering accounts for approximately 17 percent of residential indoor water use in the United States – adding up to more than 1.2 trillion gallons of water each year nationwide. Showerheads bearing the WaterSense label must not only save water, but also perform as well, or better, than conventional models on the market.(3)

To earn the WaterSense designation, a showerhead or handshower must flow at a rate of no more than 2.0 gpm, tested at a flowing pressure of 80 pounds per square inch (psi), and is tested against the following attributes to ensure performance and user satisfaction:

• A consistent flow rate across a range of pressures
• Spray force
• Spray coverage

About Delta Water-Efficient Showerheads

Delta showerheads and handshowers that meet these WaterSense requirements use 20-40 percent less water(4) than the industry standard. In addition, Delta lavatory faucets that meet WaterSense requirements use 32 percent less(5) water than the industry standard. All perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts.

By installing a Delta water-efficient showerhead, the average four-person household can potentially save an estimated 10,000 gallons of water per year. Here's how it works:

• 8 minute shower X 2.5 gpm (standard shower) = 20 gallons per shower
• 8 minute shower X 1.5 gpm (water-efficient showerhead) = 12 gallons per shower
• 8 gallon savings X 4 persons/day X 365 days/year = approximately 11,680 gallons saved per year for a four person household

Showerheads and handshowers that meet the WaterSense specification are now available in several of Delta's most popular product lines, with more collections to follow in the summer of 2010. Additionally, individual water-efficient showerhead and handshower components in the line coordinate with all Delta collections.

Currently, Delta collections with WaterSense-labeled shower options include:

• Addison™ Bath Collection
• Arzo® Bath Collection
• Classic Bath Collection
• Dryden™ Bath Collection
• Grail® Bath Collection
• Lahara® Bath Collection
• Leland® Bath Collection
• Orleans® Bath Collection
• Victorian® Bath Collection

For more information about Delta Faucet Company and its WaterSense-labeled shower and bath faucet offerings, visit www.deltafaucet.com/watersense. Or, simply visit www.DeltaFaucet.com and click on the WaterSense feature box on the homepage.

About Delta

At the heart of Delta Faucet Company is a belief that there is a better way to live with water. This conviction goes beyond excellent design to incorporate smart thinking that anticipates people's needs. From a magnetic docking spray wand that stays in place, to a DIAMOND™ valve that helps the faucet last up to 5 million uses, Delta is always incorporating thoughtful features that delight the customer. When paired with beautiful, inspirational design, it's easy to understand why Delta is more than just a faucet.

A worldwide leader in faucets and related accessories, Delta sells products in more than 53 countries. For more information, visit www.deltafaucet.com or call toll-free at 800-345-DELTA (3358).

About Delta Faucet Company

Delta Faucet Company is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of residential and commercial faucets. The company manufactures the Delta®, Brizo® and Peerless® faucet brands.

The flagship Delta brand develops stylish and innovative products that add functionality and help consumers find a smarter way to work with water. Brizo, a premium, fashion faucet brand, meets the demand for aesthetics and performance with a collection of distinctively designed faucets that create a fashion statement in the home, while the Peerless brand offers affordable faucets with proven design in a range of styles and finishes for both consumers and trade professionals alike.

Delta Faucet Company places a high priority on products that address today's environmental concerns, such as accessibility to water, water conservation and water quality. To that end, Delta Faucet invests in internal processes and systems that provide innovative solutions and ensure exceptional customer satisfaction. As a manufacturer partner of WaterSense®, a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Delta Faucet Company is committed to working with the EPA to actively protect the future of our nation's water supply. The Company also practices improved manufacturing processes to reduce its ecological footprint.

Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of brand-name consumer products for the home and family, including Behr® paint, Delta and Hansgrohe® faucets, bath and shower fixtures, KraftMaid® and Merillat® cabinets, Milgard® windows and doors and Verve™ lighting systems. Masco is also a leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and other building products through Masco Contractor Services and Masco Home Services. Visit www.masco.com for more information on the Masco family of brands.

(1) WaterSense® is a registered mark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(2) http://www.plumbingengineer.com/feb_09/watersense_feature.php

(3) http://www.epa.gov/watersense/products/showerheads.html

(4) Based on flow rate for showerheads and handshowers of 1.5gpm or 2.0gpm versus Industry Standard of ASME.A112.18.1/CSA.B125.1 of 2.5 gpm

(5) Based on flow rate for lavatories of 1.5 gpm versus Industry Standard ASME.A112.18.1/CSA.B125.1 of 2.2 gpm.

SOURCE Delta Faucet Company