(866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) · www.epa.gov/watersense · watersense@epa.gov

2009 WaterSense® Awards

OMB Control Number 2040-0272

Approval Expires 01/31/2010

The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for information collection requirements associated with the awards application for each respondent is estimated to 

be 21 hours. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 

control number. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing 

respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques, to the Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address. 

Instructions 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program is pleased to recognize the 

accomplishments of its partners. Partners in each category contribute to our shared mission of 

protecting the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting water-efficient products, services, and 

practices. 

To apply for the WaterSense Irrigation Partner of the Year award, please complete the following 

steps: 

1. Ensure Eligibility. To be eligible for an award, you must have become a WaterSense partner 

prior to January 1, 2009 and maintained your certification(s) (if applicable). 

2. Complete the Awards Application Form. Please fill out the application form, including your 

contact information, eligibility confirmation, and a description of your landscape irrigation work. 

3. Compose a Written Statement. Please prepare a short, written statement that addresses each 

of the evaluation criteria for your award category. Your written statement must be no more than 

five (5) pages in length. (Please organize and label your responses to coincide with the 

evaluation criteria categories). Your responses should only address efforts and accomplishments 

that you conducted in 2008. 

4. Compile Supporting Materials. Please include sample or supporting materials that clearly 

demonstrate how you have supported the WaterSense program’s mission. The materials, 

such as photographs and diagrams, should complement your written statement and provide 

WaterSense with tangible examples of how you promoted the WaterSense program and 

emphasized water efficiency in your projects. Please refer to the written statement instructions 

for a list of examples. 

5. Submit Two (2) Copies of the Complete Award Application Package. Mail two (2) copies 

of your complete application package, including the application form, written statement, and 

sample or supporting materials to: 

WaterSense

c/o ERG

2300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 350

Arlington, VA 22201

Your application package must be postmarked no later than April 10, 2009. 

If you have questions, please contact the WaterSense Helpline by e-mail at watersense@epa.gov or 

by calling toll free: (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367). 
Irrigation Partner of the Year Application

Partner Name:__________________________________________________________________________

WaterSense Labeled Certification(s):________________________________________________________

Title:__________________________________________________________________________________

Phone:_________________________ Fax: _________________ E-mail: ___________________________

Company/Organization:__________________________________________________________________ 

1. Please verify your eligibility:

❏ Joined WaterSense partnership prior to January 1, 2009? Date joined:_________________

❏ Please confirm that your WaterSense labeled certification is current 

Signature: ______________________________________________________________________

2. Please provide a brief description (no more than 300 words) about the landscape irrigation work that 

you do (e.g., design/install/maintenance/audit, commercial vs. residential). Attach an additional page 

if necessary.

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

3. To complete the application process, carefully 

review the written statement instructions 

and evaluation criteria, prepare your written 

statement, and submit your complete application 

package by April 10, 2009.

EPA Form Number 6100-17. (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) · www.epa.gov/watersense · watersense@epa.gov

2009 WaterSense® Awards

Important Dates

Application deadline: April 10, 2009 

Award winner notification: June 19, 2009 

Recognition ceremony: October 7-9, 2009

OMB Control Number 2040-0272

Approval Expires 01/31/2010
Written Statement Instructions 

Please compose your written statement by addressing each of the following evaluation criteria based 

on your activities in 2008. Organize and label your statement using the following categories (e.g., 

Promotional, Educational, and Outreach Activities). In total, your written statement must be no more 

than five (5) pages in length, not including sample or supporting materials. 

To strengthen your application: 

•	 Include measurable results wherever possible. For irrigation partners, this might include gallons

of water saved, number of people you have educated about WaterSense, or number of places you 

use the WaterSense partner logo. 

•	 Include supporting materials in your application package to thoroughly demonstrate your

accomplishments. For irrigation partners, these materials might include articles authored by or 

featuring you, customer education materials, or marketing materials highlighting your efforts to 

promote WaterSense and water efficiency. 

•	 Organize your written statement to address the evaluation criteria and avoid double counting

your activities across categories. Clearly label your statement to identify which criteria you are 

addressing.

WaterSense will evaluate your application based on your written statement in response to the criteria 

below. The point values following each category indicate the maximum potential value for all activities 

within that category. 

Evaluation Criteria 

1. Promotional, Educational, and Outreach Activities (60 points) 

•	 Describe how you use your WaterSense partnership to attract customers or to demonstrate

your commitment to water efficiency. For example, highlight how you use the WaterSense 

partner logo in conjunction with your name on Web sites, business cards, or other marketing 

materials that demonstrate your efforts to promote WaterSense and water efficiency.

•	 Explain how you have educated your customers and potential customers on the importance of

water efficiency and the WaterSense program. Describe how you use the following materials 

to make the case for high-quality, water-efficient irrigation work:

– Water savings data and/or return on investment

– WaterSense irrigation partner tool kit materials (i.e. brochures, press releases, bill stuffers, 

checklists, window clings, or stickers)

– WaterSense Web site

– Other materials

•	 Describe how you have educated employees, coworkers, and others in the industry about

water efficiency and the WaterSense program.

2. Water-Efficient Practices (40 points) 

•	 If you design and/or install irrigation systems, describe how you designed or installed systems

for optimal water efficiency in 2008. Explain the types of water-efficient technologies and the 

design features that you used to enhance water efficiency. 

•	 If you maintain irrigation systems, describe how you made water efficiency a priority in

system maintenance in 2008. Describe upgrades to existing systems that increased efficiency, 

or ongoing maintenance practices that allowed you to detect leaks, replace faulty parts, or 

otherwise ensure that the systems performed with optimal efficiency. 
•	 If you perform irrigation audits, describe what types of sites you audited in 2008 (i.e.,

residential or commercial) and for what types of customers (i.e., residential, commercial, or 

municipal). Explain the existing condition of the sites and the recommendations that you 

made for improvement. Report water saved, or potential water savings, if recommendations 

were implemented. 

•	 Provide data on the amount of water saved through water-efficient design, maintenance, or

audits, if available. Explain how you tracked and used water savings data to demonstrate 

benefits to current customers, attract new customers, or calculate return on investment.