As Southern California residents, water-saving practices have become a part of our daily lives and routines. For example, many of us have now replaced grass lawns with landscaping rock or turf. We are also limiting how often we wash our cars, we’re taking quicker showers, and many of us have turned in our old water-guzzling toilets for new low flow, high efficiency toilets. But, let’s face it, most Americans don’t believe they can make a dent in California’s water crisis. It seems overwhelming to many Californians, so they never get out of their comfort zone to make the necessary changes.
Some Old home Still Use 3.5 GPF, Switch To Low Flow High Efficiency Toilets
Did you know that flushing accounts for close to 30% of indoor water usage? The average person flushes five times a day. So if you use a toilet that uses 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF), that’s 32 gallons of flushing per day for a family of four, and that’s if you have a low flow, high efficiency toilet. However, some households still have toilets dating back to 1993 or later. In such cases, the toilets are using 3.5 gallons a flush. In older homes, you can still find toilets in place from before 1982, and in those cases, it’s using 5 gallons a flush. For starters, any home using a toilet that uses more than 1.6 GPF should get replaced with a low-flow model.
Why The Emphasis On Saving Water?
- Water managers of 40 states foresee water shortages in some areas of their state over the next decade, according to a Government Accountability Report (GAR).
- At home, the typical American consumes uses 82 gallons of water per day, according to estimates given by the United States USGS (United States Geological Survey).
- We can all do our part by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances to reduce our collective water use by at least 20%.
- On average, a typical household will spend $1,000 per year on their water. However, ENERGY STAR and WaterSense-labeled fixtures and appliances could save a consumer more than $380 per year by upgrading.
Become Water Savvy And Install A High-Efficiency Toilet
If your family is interested in becoming a more water-efficient household, you can start by installing new low-flow, high-efficiency toilets. We live in a world where we can get the 411 on almost any product or service. Thoroughly check out the toilet you’re considering and don’t have any buyer’s remorse. There are many different models in the market, and there is a good price point for any budget. Even what used to be high-end designers such as TOTO are now making low-flow high-efficient toilets at an affordable price point for the average homeowner. For those that can afford to splurge, the sky is the limit.
Dual Flush Toilets Are Raising Eyebrows
Many of the newly designed dual flush toilets that have appeared over the last 10 to 20 years have raised some eyebrows. For instance, the latest low-flow high-efficiency toilets built by Kohler and TOTO only use .08 for liquid flush and 1.28 for solid waste. However, 1.28 GPF is quickly becoming the new standard.
The Latest Low Flow Technologies Have A Powerful Flush
For those that don’t know, President George H. W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act into law in 1992. The mandatory federal policy states that all toilets manufactured in the U.S. cannot exceed 1.6 gallons per flush, and on January 1, 1994, the law went into effect. Although many consumers were not impressed with the new toilets because they claimed it took more than one flush to make sure everything went down. However, that is not true for the latest technologies. As we moved into the 21st Century, designers have developed low-flow toilets with powerful flushing force.
High-efficiency toilets can be a great way to conserve water, an important reality for Californians. In addition, knowing what to expect from high-efficiency appliances can help you and your family make the most informed decisions about “going green.”
Rebate Opportunities
Many water districts will offer rebates for installing WaterSense labeled fixtures for many drought-prone counties. Make sure your new toilet has the WaterSense Label to qualify for your rebate.
Other Ways To Conserve Water
While most would agree that the latest water-saving low-flow toilets are the best place to start saving water, others might disagree and say that all areas of water conservation in your home need everyone’s consideration. Everything from using a dishwasher versus handwashing to turning off the water while shaving. Shorter showers using low-flow showerheads will also make a big difference. Washing your car at a car wash that uses recycled water is another way to keep our water from going down the drain.