Nomination Letter for Watermiser®, Water Conservation Products

There is a small corporation in Southern California that is worthy of the recognition of this first-ever Water Efficiency Leader Award. That company is led by inventor, John Schommer. He invented and carefully patented devices and products that have specifically targeted the conservation, efficient use, and preservation of America’s most vital resource; a clean, reliable, and plentiful water supply. John and his small staff of “water-misers” have literally “changed the world” for those that have become aware of their products. An example of John Schommer’s continuing passion for water conservation, his recent attendance at all four of the stakeholder meetings that led to the new “Water Sense” Program, attests to his personal commi®ent to a leadership role. Recognition, by the United Sates Environmental Protection Agency, will significantly expand the application of Watermiser’s strategies and thus, annually conserve billions of gallons of water, save tremendous amounts of energy, and reduce the associated greenhouse gas releases.

Watermiser’s first product development is an innovative device called the Watermiser Flow Control Valve. It is so effective (producing a minimum of 20% savings of water use) it has recently been considered for, and recognized by, the Build It Green and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs. Though simple in appearance; the patented, self-cleaning, multi-dimensional, carefully engineered unique brass fittings will earn a LEED-designed building an additional two (2) points (1 point for water savings and 1 point for energy savings) when they are included in the building specifications. As much as there is an obvious need for requiring all new construction of homes, commercial buildings, institutional structures, educational campuses, and military facilities to use these affordable plumbing system components; the real impact will be realized when American cities and watersheds proceed with retrofitting these units into all of the existing homes, apar®ents, condominiums, skyscrapers, factories, and military bases. The flow control valves allow the flow rate of any faucet to be precisely preset; to deliver water within a range from ½ gallon per minute to 2.2 gpm depending on customer needs.

Recent surveys have shown that the flapper (or flush) valve in toilets, across America, start to leak in as few as two years. Unfortunately, after five years of dutiful service, nearly all flush-valves show some sign of leakage. Watermiser has developed a uniquely formulated, and applied, blue dye that, when used to “test” a toilet bowl or urinal, can rapidly detect even the smallest of leaks. A leak, equivalent to one drop per second, will waste nearly 2,000 gallons per year. Multiplied by millions of toilets and urinals across this Nation; and billions of gallons of water could be saved by simply knowing when to change the flush-valve. Watermiser’s patented Miser-Blue^® 5-Second Toilet and Urinal Leak Detector successfully and directly addresses this unseen need.

Watermiser’s latest patented innovation is the Watermiser Waterbroom. This device uses up to 90% less water for traditional health and sanitation cleaning compared to a hose and nozzle or power washer. The Waterbroom looks like a broom, but instead of bristles, brass jets amplify a small amount of water beneath a sophisticated aerodynamic “wing” to create a powerful Venturi effect, allowing the Waterbroom to clean using air and water. Not only does the Waterbroom save significant amounts of water and achieve superior performance on surfaces that require periodic wash-down (outdoor eating areas and entrance zones of fast-food stores , it also dramatically reduces the man-hours required to complete the task. By using up to 90% less water than conventional methods, the environmental benefit is the near elimination of runoff (to the street, gutter, storm-sewer, and waters of the Nation) and all of the associated pollutants.

I would like to highlight several of Watermiser’s successes. They are by no means unique. Waterbrooms were implemented at the Anaheim Convention Center, saving 4 million gallons of water per year while reducing washdown time by 75%, and virtually eliminating runoff. In a single program, 220 Waterbrooms were implemented in the washdown of outside eating areas at 220 elementary schools, within a single watershed in Southern California, again saving significant amounts of water, staff time, and reducing runoff to the sewer system. Thousands upon thousands of Flow Control Valves have been ordered and installed by hotels, apar®ents, schools, depar®ent stores and restaurants; saving approximately 20% on the water bill and thus earning a payback period of less than six months. Notably, Miser-Blue has become a fixture in the customer service “tool-kit” of several Southern California cities and water districts, to assist customers, suffering from excessively high water bills, to find and eliminate water waste.

Talk of water conservation and water conservation programs are common in the water industry. John Schommer and his little company of water misers has been, and continues to effectively, efficiently, and energetically engage this most critical issue. He is a leader, an inventor, a small businessman, an employer of minorities, a family man, and a good friend to all who know him. He deserves your careful review of his achievements and your thoughtful consideration of the potential his company and products hold for America, its resources, its water supply, and its future. He truly represents a Water Efficiency Leader.

Sincerely,

Harlan D. Delzer

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