Conserve Water With High-Efficiency Toilet
Published 11.07.2011
News
It is said that drinking water soon will replace oil as the most valuable commodity. In our homes, toilet flushing is the No. 1 user of potable water. When you think about it, we don't really need water as pure as drinking water for flushing but other sources (rainwater, "grey water") are not readily available. New toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush The early low-flow toilets didn't flush that well, but toilets now have a flush rating that can be used for comparison. Some high-performance toilets use 0.8 gpf; others have two flush levels (dual flush). Replacing an older 3.5- or 5-gpf toilet with a new one will save thousands of gallons of water and save money on your waterand sewer bill (since, in somemunicipalities,the latter is calculated based on the water meter). PCToday "Green Tips," practical suggestions to help the college family save energy and money, are provided by the Energy Conservation Subcommittee; email Chairman Richard C. Taylor, associate professor of plumbing and heating, with items for possible publication.