The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named the Irrigation Association (IA) the 2014 WaterSense Partner of the Year for the second consecutive year.
In 2013, the IA became the first professional certifying agency partner to win the award.
The WaterSense Partner of the Year award recognizes 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. “As a long-time WaterSense partner, we are committed to promoting efficient irrigation and encouraging consumers to seek out WaterSense-labeled certifications and products.”
IA staff members—including Hamlin; Brent Mecham, industry development director; and Sherrie Schulte, professional development director—accepted the award on behalf of the association at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference & Exposition Oct. 9 in Las Vegas.
“The WaterSense program is entwined in IA’s certification strategy,” Hamlin said. “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, the EPA has more than 2,000 WaterSense partners labeled through IA certification programs.
