Water Saving Toilets

Did you know that over the course of an average person’s life, you’re likely to flush the toilet approximately 140,000 times?

Each time you flush the toilet, wouldn’t it be great to know that you’re doing your part to save water?

Whether you live in an area that’s going through a drought or not, it’s always a good idea to conserve water whenever you can. By doing so, you’ll not only save a precious natural resource; you’ll also do your wallet an awesome favor by lowering your monthly water bill. And with so many bills to pay, who doesn’t need a little cost savings these days?

One way to experience regular cost savings: purchase water saving toilets. Thanks to advances in modern technology, and modern laws, water efficient toilets are available for your home. And they still get the job done effectively!

Below, we’ll go through the different types of toilets that you can choose from if you’re committed to saving water – and saving money – every time you flush.

The Water Sense Toilet

Legally speaking, toilets cannot use more than 1.6 gallons per single flush.

In order to officially be qualified as a water sense toilet, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates 1.28 gallons per flush, or less.

According to the EPA website, the “WaterSense label is used on toilets that are independently certified to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency. Only water–saving toilets that complete the certification process can earn the WaterSense label.”

Water Savings Toilet | Ben Franklin Plumbing Bay Area

Image courtesy of Ebmed

The EPA’s website also confirms that water-efficient toilets with this certification can save nearly 13,000 gallons of water per household on a yearly basis! If everyone in the US replaced older toilets with efficient toilets, we could save 520 billion gallons of water every single year. You can actually look for the specific Water-Sense label on the actual toilet, so you have no doubt that particular toilet meets EPA qualifications.

The image below outlines the specific water savings according to when your toilet was manufactured:

Water Efficient Toilets | Ben Franklin Plumbing Bay ARea

Image courtesy of Mbra

Types of Water Saving Toilets

Let’s dig a little deeper into the specific types of water saving toilets on the market.

1. The Dual-Flush Toilet

Dual Flush Toilet | Ben Franklin Plumbing Bay Area

Image courtesy of Enviro Gadget

If you’ve never seen or used a dual-flush toilet, they are just what they sound like. They offer two ways to flush: a half flush for liquid waste only, and a full flush for solid waste. Less water will be used during the first and more water will be used during the latter.

This type of toilet is used internationally (it was first invented in 1976 and first used in 1980) and is more expensive than other types of toilets. These toilets use either two buttons or two separate handles to distinguish between half and full flushes.

2. Round Front Toilets

Round Front Toilets | Ben Franklin Plumbing Bay Area

Image courtesy of Caroma USA

These types of toilets may look a little odd when you first look at them, but they actually make perfect sense when it comes to saving water. Don’t be scared of this model – and don’t’ worry – you won’t actually be washing your hands with toilet water!

How it works: after you flush, cold fresh water comes through the faucet for you to wash your hands. When you’re finished washing your hands, that water you just used drains into the tank and is used for the next flush (instead of being discarded) – saving water each time you use the toilet!

In fact, one brand called Caroma, says that since November 2015, this type of toilet has saved “an estimated 4,883,734,221 gallons of water in the US alone.”

3. Dry Toilets

If you really want to conserve water in a major way when, consider purchasing a dry toilet for your home. Dry toilets operate without any water.
Dry Toilets | Ben Franklin Plumbing Bay Area

Image Courtesy of Dry Toilets

4. Pressure Assisted Toilets

A pressure assisted toilet uses water to flush, but this type is also considered a water saving toilet. It was first introduced to the market in 1984.

Whenever you flush a pressure assisted toilet, you use anywhere from 1.1 to 1.2 gallons per flush, which is actually less than dual flush toilets (1.3 gallons per flush). The compressed air inside the toilet acts like a spring and pushes the water into the bowl more forcefully.

So there you have it – a few types of water saving toilets to consider if you’re thinking about replacing your current toilet.

Isn’t it great to know that we can save water and still utilize effective bathroom plumbing in our homes?