Low Flow Toilet

Can Reduce Your Wate Bill

If your home was built before 1992, it probably features an older generation toilet with a large-capacity water tank.  Depending on when your toilet was installed, it may be using anywhere between 3.5 gallons of water per flush to as much as 7 gallons.

As far as the government is concerned, the faster these models become obsolete, the better.  The reason-water conservation.  Toilets make up for nearly 30 percent of all indoor water use, which is why the number of gallons per flush became the focus of legislation a decade ago.  The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (H.R. 776) of 1992 mandated new homes nationwide be installed with water-efficient 1.6 gallon commodes.

Although the law is not retroactive-meaning it does not require existing homes with the older toilet types to be replaced-consumers can realize significant savings in their water bills by making the switch.  According to the American Water Works Association, replacing an old toilet with a low-flow model can result in an annual savings of between 7,900 to 21,700 gallons of water for an average household.  And that equates to savings in consumer water bills, by some estimates as much as $50 to $100 a year.  In addition to the benefits to individual households, the 1.6 gallons water-saving commodes also help reduce the amount of wastewater flow to publicly owned treatment facilities.

While the first few rounds of low-flow toilts manufactured were decidedly poor flushers and brought a wave of consumer malcontent, manufacturers have made significant improvements in gravity-flush design.  The latest in new generation toilets feature adjustments in the placement and size of water jets in bowl rims, wider pipes and the addition of pressurized water and vacuum pressure to improve flow.  Today, consumers can choose from a variety of good-working low flow commodes on the market.