About 80 percent of America’s estimated 12 million urinals are old and inefficient, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But newer models that can reduce water use are already available.

To make it easier to identify and specify efficient, high-performing urinals and capitalize on water-savings opportunities, the EPA’s WaterSense program has issued a notification of intent (NOI) to develop specifications for high-efficiency urinals.

Once final, these specifications will make it easier to identify urinals that save water and perform as well or better than the competition.

The NOI outlines EPA's approach to developing draft specifications — the water-efficiency and performance criteria required for urinals to earn the WaterSense label — as well as technical issues to be resolved for WaterSense labeling of urinals.

EPA is interested in receiving feedback. Interested parties can submit comments or suggestions to watersense-urinals@erg.com. WaterSense will post updates periodically on its Web site.