Flush With Pride!

High Rise (High Flow) Toilet

Fresh water is a precious, highly valuable resource, doubly so in the American Southwest. The last thing in the world we should do with it is to pour it down the drain. But outdated plumbing fixtures do just that by wasting many gallons of water when only one or two are needed. If you don't have low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures in your house yet, then now is the time to swap them out.

Prior to 1994 toilets were designed to use 5 to 7 gallons of fresh water with each flush. Yes, five or seven gallons of fresh, drinkable water went straight down the drain every time you flushed the toilet! Some folks may remember that the first low-flow toilets manufactured after the law change in the early 1990's were simply, not worth a darn. While they may have used less water per flush, they occasionally required more flushes to do the job. Fortunately, toilet technology has advanced over the years as the manufacturers redesigned and improved their products. Modern low-flow toilets not only flush cleanly, they are more efficient using 1.6 gallons or 6 liters of water per flush.

Manufacturers are now producing bathroom fixtures that use less than a gallon to no water at all. Waterless Urinals are becoming more widespread, especially in high-use public facilities, as they require zero water to flush what is 99% water already. I've seen and used waterless urinals over recent weeks in places ranging from National Parks to City Sports Arenas.

While urinals are uncommon in most homes there are other water-wise plumbing options for your house. Dual-flush toilets have half-flush modes that use less than one gallon to flush "number one" and 1.6 gallons for "number two". For help in finding an attractive and effective low-flow and dual-flush toilets visit plumber Terry Love's Consumer Toilet Reports which has extensive toilet reviews and a discussion forum. This may prove the point that you can find a website for ANY subject on the planet.

Check out the links below for more information on municipal water saving programs and water saving bathroom fixtures that will help you flush with pride.

Further Reading

Santa Fe, New Mexico Waterwise Program

Albuquerque & Bernalillo County Low-Flow Toilet Rebate Program

Terry Love's Consumer Toilet Reports

Waterless Urinals