Washington, D.C. -- EPA is now accepting applications for the 2010 WaterSense Partner of the Year awards. With water efficiency becoming a more important aspect of green building each year, these awards showcase the successes of the program's partners in increasing awareness and understanding of the WaterSense brand and label.

The WaterSense Partner of the Year awards recognize program partners in four primary categories (manufacturer, irrigation partner, retailer/distributor, and promotional partners), based on their demonstrated accomplishments promoting water-efficient products and practices in 2009. Depending on the applicant pool, WaterSense may recognize multiple award winners in any category.

Applicants must be WaterSense partners in good standing, and award applications must be postmarked or submitted by April 9, 2010, to be considered. Winners will be formally recognized at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 6 to 8, 2010. Additional information and application materials are available on the WaterSense Web site.