First major irrigation manufacturer recognized for second consecutive year
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today recognized The Toro Company with a 2016 WaterSense® Excellence Award for its efforts and education in water conservation. Toro was presented the award at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas. 
Since 2006, Toro and other WaterSense partners have helped U.S. consumers save 1.5 trillion gallons of water, more than the amount of water used by all households in California for a year. In addition to water savings, WaterSense-labeled products and homes have helped reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, pump, and treat water by 212 billion kilowatt hours since the program began in 2006, enough energy to supply a year’s worth of power to more than 19.4 million homes. More than 1,700 utilities, manufacturers, retailers, builders and other organizations participate in the EPA’s WaterSense program; however, only a select few are recognized each year for their significant program contributions.
“Over the past 10 years, communities, states, organizations, manufacturers, retailers and builders across the country have been working with WaterSense to help Americans save water for future generations,” said Joel Beauvais, EPA Office of Water Deputy Assistant Administrator. “I am pleased to see so many of our WaterSense partners making contributions to build the resilience of communities everywhere by helping people use water more efficiently.”
Receiving the 2016 WaterSense Excellence Award for Education and Outreach, Toro was recognized for its efforts across a range of initiatives that included training events, trade shows and expos to educate contractors, distributors and consumers on water-efficient practices and WaterSense-labeled products. Through Toro’s continued partnership with the Wyland Foundation’s National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, which encourages residents nationwide to commit to water-saving activities, the company has also been able to share information, best practices and products promoting outdoor water-use efficiency.
In 2015, Toro became the primary sponsor of The Water Zone, a first-of-its-find weekly radio program on KCAA in southern California, to help educate the public on the issue of water and products and best practices to protect this vital resource. In furthering outreach and education, the company also launched a new website, watersmart.toro.com, to provide information on water-saving products and practices, rebate information on water-efficient products, and suggested links to other resources like the WaterSense program.
The 2016 WaterSense Excellence Award is the second consecutive award that Toro has received from the WaterSense program. In 2015, Toro was awarded EPA WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year. “Toro is dedicated to outreach and education that promotes water-saving innovation and the efficient use of water,” said Phil Burkart, vice president of The Toro Company’s Irrigation and Lighting Businesses. “We are proud to have our efforts recognized again by such an important national agency.”
For more information about WaterSense, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
