Our planet is a large and unique place. In it, we have resources that we rely on to survive. Those resources are limited though and it falls to us to learn how we can help to conserve them for future generations.
Conserving water is one of those ways we can help. It may seem easy to use less water when we wash our dishes or take shorter showers.
Unfortunately, there are some appliances that we own that do not have control over the amount of water it consumes. Bathroom toilets are one such appliance which is why low flush toilets are important to consider for water conservation.
What Are Low Flushing Toilets
Low flushing toilets have the same look as any other toilet but they are designed to use nearly 20 percent less than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush.
Even with this in mind, older toilet models that haven’t been replaced still use nearly 6 gallons of water per flush. If you live by yourself and only flushed once a day, that’s still 180 gallons of water you use in a month.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, toilets account for 30% of the average households indoor water consumption. Low flush toilets were made to save thousands of gallons of water per year in a single household.
How Do They Work?
Since low flush toilets use less water, it makes a person wonder how waste doesn’t get trapped in the U-bend. Well, they use one of two methods: gravity or pressure assistance.
Low flush toilets that use gravity push the water from the toilet bowl and guide the waste through the pipes to the septic tank.
Pressure-assisted toilets have a pressure tank built-in and it acts as a giant water balloon. As the tank fills up, it holds the water there under pressure until it is flushed.
Why Pay Attention To Your Water Usage?
By switching to a more energy and water-efficient toilet, we can save millions of gallons of water each year.
The EPA noted that if every household in the nation replaced older models, that number would jump to billions of water saved.
That’s equal to the amount that flows over the Niagra Falls in a week. Being aware of the problem and acting on it are two different things. Taking the time to educate yourself on the matter is one step closer to being a part of the solution.
Thank you to those of you who took the time to read this article and learn about one of the ways you can help to conserve water. If you would like to understand other ways you can decrease your water consumption, check for leaks around your home as this can be a major cause of wasted water.
You can also visit the EPA website if you wish to learn more about how much water your other appliances consume. Or, ask our local plumbers and we’ll be happy to assist you with your plumbing needs!
