Ineligible and Incorrectly Labeled Products
WaterSense labeled products meet EPA's specifications for water efficiency and performance, and are backed by independent, third-party certification.
However, not all products have earned the label. This can be for a variety of reasons, including that the product is part of an ineligible product category, the product fails to meet EPA’s efficiency or performance criteria, or the product manufacturer has not worked with an independent licensed certifying body to test and certify the product. The sections below provide more information on these scenarios.
On this page:
Ineligible Product Categories
Not all water-using products are eligible to earn the WaterSense label. The table below summarizes product categories that EPA frequently receives questions about, along with water efficiency criteria or alternative ecolabels that consumers should look for instead.
| Product Category | Recommended Efficiency Criteria |
|---|---|
| Public lavatory faucets (typically installed in commercial building restrooms and other non-private toilet facilities) | 0.5 gallons per minute or less |
| Kitchen faucets | 1.8 gallons per minute or less |
| Clothes washers | ENERGY STAR certified |
| Dishwashers | ENERGY STAR certified |
| Water softeners | 5.0 gallons or less per 1,000 grains of hardness removed |
| Ice machines | ENERGY STAR certified |
| Water heaters | ENERGY STAR certified |
Visit the Other Water-Efficient Products page to learn how you can maximize water savings when purchasing other products and appliances in your home.
Products Incorrectly Advertised as WaterSense Labeled
Unfortunately, there are instances where the WaterSense label and/or associated language are misused in the marketplace, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to communicate that a non-certified product has earned the WaterSense label. EPA works with its third-party licensed certifying bodies to resolve these issues; however, in some cases, issues can go unresolved for an extended period. Therefore, EPA is communicating known label misuse so consumers can avoid confusion when shopping for WaterSense labeled products.
The file below includes information on product models known to EPA to be incorrectly advertised as WaterSense labeled.
- Products Incorrectly Advertised as WaterSense Labeled (pdf) [last updated May 2026]
If you notice products incorrectly advertised as WaterSense labeled, you can report them to the WaterSense Helpline at watersense@epa.gov, and EPA will work to resolve the issue.