Water-Saving Toilets & Washers

Staying on the subject of water use, I want to now draw attention to the two highest water consuming fixtures in the home. Toilets and washers account for almost HALF of water use in a residential home. By focusing on new rating systems and available technology, we can drastically reduce water consumption. As I stated before, California is very drought prone and has the unfortunate condition where peak consumption occurs at odds to peak rainfall. The state also has a projected populaton of 60 million people by 2050! Making water-saving fixtures standard in homes can have a huge impact, now and in the future.

Toilets are a feature in the home that is definitely taken for granted. If it is not working, it can be a real problem. Conversely, we use the toilet multiple times per day, maybe not realizing how much water use it is creating. Older model toilets can use as much as 3 gallons or more, each time it is flushed. Have a larger family? If a family of four each use the toilet 3-4 times a day, that can add up to 330 gallons PER WEEK! A federal mandate established in 1992 now states that new toilets can only use 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). The EPA WaterSense programs goes further with a 1.28 GPF requirement. Also under the 1.28 GPF program can be a "dual-flush" toilet, which can offer 1.6 GPF for solids and 1.1 GPF for liquids.

Traditional "gravity" flush toilets can work fine using 1.28 GPF. "Pressure-assist" toilets use air and water from a pressurized tank within the porcelain tank of the toilet. Clogging is not often an issue. These are popular for commercial applications, yet do cause a lot of noise for a residential home. One of the newest products is a "vacuum-assist" toilet. This type uses a special tube that diverts air from the filling tank to the actual trap of the toilet. This air pocket will create less water to fill the bowl, while also creating a gap in the line. This pocket will then cause a vacuum when flushed, drawing waste down the line with operation similar to traditional "gravity" units. All these types can be found in models that price for around $300.

If you don't want an entire new toilet, retrofit kits are also available. These will replace your existing flushing mechanisms with a dual-flush operation. These kits will usually run at about $30. Look for the GPF ratings so that you can be sure to meet WaterSense requirements.

Clothes washers are a bit more tricky to quantify water use. Since washers can come in different sizes and have different cycles, a standard rating had to be created. The Energy Star program therefore created the "water factor" (or WF) rating. This calculated the numbers of gallons used per cycle PER cubic foot of washer capacity. The lower the number, the more efficient the washer is. The federal standard WF is 9.5, while the WaterSense requirement is a WF of 6. Technology can help to play a role here, with specific cycle options and "load sensing" (much like a dishwasher) that can determine how dirty clothes are and how much water is needed to clean them. Highly efficient units from Frigidaire, Samsung and LG all have a WF of around 3!

As you can see, the products you need to use less water in your home ARE available. The good news is that they are also affordable, becoming a new standard as we move towards greater efficiency and performance for your home.

Water Efficiency Standards & Practices

Water usage is becoming more of a concern for developed areas. Populations are steadily increasing while water resources are staying the same (or in shortage depending on the weather of any given year).

Water efficiency can have some small paybacks in utility bills, but there is more of a "big picture" perspective to take. The distribution, purification and heating of water uses large amounts of energy. Also, the more water we use, the more our waste systems are stressed. By cutting water shortage on a large scale, the payoff will come in the form of fewer water shortage periods, higher energy availability, less pollution and more efficient waste processing.

Federal mandates for water efficiency have been established by the department of energy. These are seen as the most basic level of water consumption for fixtures such as toilets, showers, faucets, dishwashers and clothes washers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also established the Water Sense program, which takes efficiency even further and undercuts federal standards significantly. However, the technology available in modern fixtures and appliances can still achieve these numbers and are price competitive. Look for the official "water sense" label:

or search for approved products here.

The bonus when shopping for water efficient appliances, such as clothes laundry and dishwashers, is that they are often EnergyStar rated as well!

When examining your home for water efficiency, even before you switch out appliances and fixtures, you may want to start with looking for LEAKS.

Studies show that leaks account for about 14% of indoor water use. That is almost as much water as either bathroom faucets or showers! It can be amazing what a few drips can add up to over time! Not only is the water wasted, but it can be causing damage to the home. Look for dripping faucets or toilets that keep running. Check out the connections under your sinks. Look for water stains at the bottom of walls or on a ceiling. Many homes in the Bay Area are older and may contain water piping that can now be corroded and weak, with leaks at joints and fixtures.

Whatever the size of your home and family, using water efficient products and practices can create significant savings of this precious and irreplaceable resource. Additionally, if communities, cities and regions can band together to commit to water efficiency, the results will be of a larger scale and the rewards may span into generations to come.