Georgia residents who purchase WaterSense-labeled products through Oct. 7 won’t have to pay state and local sales taxes on the items with a price tag of up to $1,500.

WaterSense-labeled toilets, shower heads, faucets, irrigation controllers and other products use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than conventional models. Independent third parties certify that products meet EPA criteria for water efficiency.

Dallas Mayor Boyd Austin, chair of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, said small steps matter.

“Some people think a new shower head won’t make a difference, but it does,” Austin said in a Sept. 26 statement. “Every drop of water counts in metro Atlanta, and we can all do our part.”

Replacing a standard shower head with a WaterSense-labeled one can save thousands of gallons of water a year. Replacing an old toilet with a water-efficient one will save more than 2 gallons a flush. Besides saving money on the sales tax, residents who purchase a WaterSense-labeled toilet may qualify for a rebate. Details are available at www.northgeorgiawater.org/toiletrebate. 

The sales tax holiday continues until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 7 for items purchased for non-commercial home or personal use.

WaterSense is a partnership program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by offering a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes and services. To search for products, visit www.epa.gov/water

sense/product_search.html. For tips on reducing water use, visit www.mydropcounts.org.