What Does "Guaranteed Water Savings" Actually Mean?

What the Guarantee Actually Says

The Smart Valve™ program guarantees a minimum 15% reduction in metered water consumption for qualifying commercial properties. The guarantee is issued in writing before installation — not after — and is based on a pre-installation assessment of the property's water system, meter size, and current consumption patterns. If the minimum threshold is not achieved within 6 months of installation, the program fee is adjusted or the valve is removed at no cost.

How Savings Are Measured (M&V)

Savings are measured using IPMVP (International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol) Option B methodology — the same standard used by energy service companies (ESCOs) for performance contracts. This involves comparing pre-installation and post-installation meter readings over the same billing periods, adjusted for occupancy and seasonal variation. Independent M&V engineers conduct quarterly site visits and produce written reports throughout the 10-year program period.

This level of measurement rigor is what separates a written guarantee from a marketing claim. For more on our certification standards, visit the certifications page.

What Qualifies for the Guarantee

Properties that qualify for the written guarantee typically have:

• →A commercial water meter (not a residential meter)
• →Monthly water spend of $1,500 or more
• →A main supply line accessible for installation (no in-slab or otherwise inaccessible configurations)
• →Consistent, high-volume daily water draw — hotels, multifamily, hospitals, car washes, data centers, golf courses

What the Guarantee Does NOT Cover

The guarantee covers metered water consumption reduction. It does not cover:

• →Sewer bill savings — though these typically follow in municipalities where sewer is billed as a multiplier of water meter readings. See our post on sewer bill reduction for details.
• →Rate increases by the utility — if your utility raises rates, your dollar savings will still be real, but the bill may still increase on a per-unit basis.
• →Irrigation-only systems or non-metered water sources.

For a deeper look at sewer bill compounding, see: Does Reducing Your Water Consumption Also Lower Your Sewer Bill?

Ready to see what your specific facility qualifies for? Start with our savings assessment or browse verified client results.