Most of us are all for reducing the amount of water that we use daily. Did you know that Americans use on average 5.8 billion gallons of water a day to flush their toilets? Roughly three-quarters of indoor home water consumption takes place in the bathroom, while your toilet is responsible for 28% of that. So if it isn't in the budget to install a dual flushing toilet, click through to see some water saving options.
Water Conservation In The Bathroom
In an effort to promote water conservation, Federal law mandates that all residential toilets manufactured after 1994 must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). As of 1997, commercial toilets were also required to reach this standard, and urinals were required to use no more than one gpf. However, older models are still very common in residences and use between 3.5 to seven gpf.
We found several products that can lend a hand on cutting down your home's water usage with very little install time.
Toilet Tummy- The Toilet Tummy is easy to use. Just fill it with water and hang it on the inside of the toilet tank. You save water because the space occupied by the Toilet Tummy does not require filling with toilet water. This simple procedure will instantly make your toilet water-efficient and save you 80oz of water with each flush.
Frugal Flush- The Frugal Flusher is an adjustable dial allows for water savings of up to 50%.
Fill Master- The Fill Master Fill Cycle Diverter is a toilet tank water saver that saves 1.25 to 2.00 liters of water per flush by diverting the majority of the water that flows down the toilet's overflow tube.
Many other people just swear by filling a water bottle and slinging it in the back of your toilet to float, displacing the same amount of water that some of the above products would take up... and most of us might have those in our homes already without having to run out and purchase a new "green product."
Photo by mrjoro via Flickr.
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What about those of us who don't have toilets with tanks?
view first5times's profile
I put a gallon milk jug, filled with water, into my tank. You can weight it with rocks if you need to keep it from floating.
view Cheryl's profile
just stick a brick in there!!
view bluetoes's profile
Do not use a brick to displace water. Overtime it can dissolve and clog the drain.
view LilyC's profile
I use the brick. What an excellent way to save money, I noticed it immediately on my bill.
view aladywhoknows's profile
If replacement is an option, there are a number of rebate programs out there to help with the cost of installing a dual flush system. Our new Toto Aquia .9/1.6GPF will cost us $175 plus installation after rebate. If water consumption is truly 28% toilet-based, we should recoup the cost of the upgrade via our water bill pretty quickly.
Our new Toto also delivers a clean bowl after each use on each setting. Our other fairly new Kohler 1.6GPF toilet? Not so much.
view wig3000's profile
WHY are the dual flush systems so expensive here? Overseas, every half way decent cafe bathroom has them (save for the ones that stick to Turkish...a disaster in a bar after a few pints, if you ask me). Why are we so archaic in our plumbing and heating systems? European radiators are so cool, flush to the wall...if hostels can afford them, can't everyone?
view truckeekid's profile
That really cute dog looks like a toilet flusher to me --- beware they can really waste water! :-)
view poptart's profile
I agree with the first comment. When I'm away at school my dorm is tankless. :\ I assume there is nothing I could do for that, huh?
view witchbaby's profile
I work for TOTO, and manage their Chicago Gallery in downtown/river north.
TOTO offers over 25 high efficiency toilets that use 1.28 gpf or dual flush options. Converting your existing toilets to High Efficiency toilets can save you up to 16,000 gallons of water a year in each toilet you switch out.
www.whytotology.com
500 N. Wells Street - Chicago 312-661-0876 for more info.
-Kiel Wuellner
view KielOver's profile