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WaterSense

Spray Sprinkler Bodies

WaterSense Products Pipeline

WaterSense Products SearchOutdoor water use accounts for about 30 percent of average household water use nationwide. This number rises dramatically in hotter and drier parts of the country. Current estimates are that residential outdoor water use accounts for nearly 9 billion gallons of water each day, mainly for landscape irrigation. Irrigation systems that operate at pressures higher than optimum levels can waste significant amounts of water.

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Reduce Pressure

Sprinkler with pressure regulationIrrigation system operating under correct pressure (photo courtesy of Rain Bird).The sprinkler body is the exterior shell that connects to the irrigation system piping and houses the spray nozzle that applies water on the landscape. Some models of sprinkler bodies can control water pressure at the inlet to the nozzle, resulting in effective performance of their associated spray nozzles.

Landscape irrigation sprinklers are often installed at sites where the system pressure is higher than what is recommended for the sprinkler nozzle. This can lead to excessive flow rates, misting, fogging, and uneven coverage. WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies with integral pressure regulation can reduce water waste by providing a constant flow at the sprinkler nozzle. Additionally, when the sprinkler body maintains a pressure near its optimal operating pressure, the connected nozzle is better able to generate the right amount of water spray and coverage for more uniform distribution of water across the landscape.

High pressure sprinkler being used on a yardIrrigation system operating under too-high pressure (photo courtesy of Irrigation Association).As with all WaterSense labeled products, spray sprinkler bodies must be tested and independently certified to ensure that they meet EPA’s criteria for efficiency and performance. This information is also available in a fact sheet (PDF)(1 pp, 399 K, About PDF). The mini-report, Relieve Pressure and Reduce Waste from Spray Sprinklers (4 pp, 1,440K , About PDF)also provides information about the features, benefits, and installation of WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies.

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WaterSense Savings

If every home in the United States with an automatic landscape irrigation system operating above optimal pressure installed sprinkler bodies with integral pressure regulation, we could save more than 31 billion gallons of water across the country. Experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of outdoor water use is wasted due to overwatering caused by inefficiencies in irrigation methods and systems. One way that outdoor irrigation systems waste water is when they operate at water pressures higher than recommended.  WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies regulate pressure to ensure a consistent flow rate and deliver water evenly to the landscape. 

Installing WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies in an irrigation system for the average household using 50,500 gallons outdoors, operating at or above 60 pounds per square inch (psi), can save nearly 5,600 gallons of water and $60 per year in water and sewer costs annually. Replacing all sprinkler bodies across the country that operate above optimal pressure with labeled models could save more than 31 billion gallons of water nationally each year.

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Specification

EPA released a final specification for WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies on September 21, 2017. 

For more information about the specification development process for spray sprinkler bodies, including the draft specification, public response to the draft specification, and EPA's response to the public comments, please visit the Specification for Spray Sprinkler Bodies Background Materials page.

Manufacturers that produce spray sprinkler bodies meeting EPA's efficiency and performance criteria can apply to have their products certified to earn the WaterSense label. Before submitting products for testing, manufacturers must have a partnership agreement with EPA in place. Visit the manufacturer section on the partner page to learn more. 

Note:  Although WaterSense initially intended to develop a specification for spray sprinkler nozzles as well, the program made the decision to stop work on that component due to comments received through the Notice of Intent (NOI) process.  Should the program decide to develop a specification for this product category in the future, it will issue a new NOI. 

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