Water Efficiency

Protecting and ensuring a plentiful water supply is of utmost importance within our community and to the Athens-Clarke County (ACC) Public Utilities Department (PUD).  Installing high water-efficiency fixtures in a property starts the owner off on the right foot to lower their water footprint.  ACC Plumbing Ordinance follows the International Plumbing Code as specified within the Georgia State Minimum Standard Plumbing Code, with Georgia State Amendments to the International Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition. 

The current maximum water consumption flow rates for all plumbing fixtures and fixture fittings are as follows:

Maximum Flow Rates & Consumption for Plumbing Fixtures & Fixture Fittings
Plumbing Fixture or Fixture FittingMaximum Flow Rate
Lavatory, private1.5 gpm at 60 psi*
Lavatory, public (metering)0.25 gallon per metering cycle
Lavatory, public (other than metering)0.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 psi
Shower head2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 psi
Kitchen faucet or replacement aerator2.0 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 psi
Lavatory faucet or replacement aerator1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 psi*
Urinal0.5 gallons per flushing cycle (gpf)*
Single flush water closet/Toilet1.28 gallons per flushing cycle (gpf)*
Dual flush water closet/ToiletAvg. flush volume of two reduced flushes and one full flush does not exceed 1.28 gallons per flushing cycle (gpf)*
*Maximum flow rate meets the corresponding EPA WaterSense Specifications for water-efficiency

WATERSENSE LISTED PLUMBING FIXTURE OR PLUMBING FIXTURE FITTING. A plumbing fixture or plumbing fixture fitting that has been tested by an accredited third-party certifying body or laboratory in accordance with the WaterSense Program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and has been listed (certified) by such body or laboratory as meeting the performance and efficiency requirements of the program and has been authorized by the program to use its label.