For the second consecutive year, the Irrigation Association has been named the 2014 WaterSense Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2013, IA became the first professional certifying agency partner to win this prestigious award.
By producing and promoting WaterSense labeled products, new homes, and programs, more than 1,500 WaterSense partners helped Americans save 271 billion gallons of water in 2013 alone. Every year, a select few are recognized for their significant program contributions.
The WaterSense Partner of the Year award recognizes those partners who help advance the mission of WaterSense, increase awareness of the WaterSense label in a measurable way and increase the adoption of water-efficient practices among their constituents or community.
“We are honored to be recognized with this award for the second year in a row,” said IA CEO Deborah Hamlin, CAE, FASAE. “As a long-time WaterSense partner, we are committed to promoting efficient irrigation and encouraging consumers to seek out WaterSense-labeled certifications and products.”
The association was honored with this award due to its exemplary efforts to promote the value of IA’s Select Certified program to the existing marketplace through targeted marketing campaigns, interactive seminars at the Irrigation Show & Education Conference, and the launch of the certified irrigation technician program.
Key members of IA staff, including Hamlin, Industry Development Director Brent Mecham, CID, CLWM, CIC, CAIS, and Professional Development Director Sherrie Schulte, CLIA, accepted the award on behalf of the association at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference & Exposition earlier today, Oct. 9, in Las Vegas.
“The WaterSense program is entwined in IA’s certification strategy,” said Hamlin. “We are committed to growing our partnership with WaterSense to spread the word about why efficiency is a necessary part of all irrigation systems.”
IA became involved in the WaterSense program from its inception in 2006 and, by February 2007, had received the WaterSense stamp of approval on four of its certification exams: certified irrigation designer, certified irrigation contractor, certified landscape irrigation auditor and certified golf irrigation auditor. To date, EPA has more than 2,000 WaterSense partners labeled through IA certification programs.
