Straight from the AJC “A bill that state lawmakers say will create a “culture of conservation” and potentially help douse Georgia’s water war with Florida and Alabama is all but a done deal.The state Senate passed its final version of the bill 52-0 on Wednesday, and the House quickly followed with a 166-5 vote on an identical version of the proposal. One chamber’s bill must now clear the other chamber before the legislation heads to Gov. Sonny Perdue for his signature.”
That Georgia has taken the lead nationwide for requiring low flow plumbing fixtures in new construction might seem like quite a surprise – the state hasn’t been known for its progressive policies in energy and water efficiency. However, when your largest city of 4 million people is threatened by a limited supply of drinking water, it becomes quite obvious how easy this must have been.
And it is certainly to be commended – there aren’t any other states that have actually passed legislation requiring more water efficient plumbing fixtures and set an implementation date. There is, however, one glaring problem. It does not account for any of the existing plumbing fixtures installed throughout the state, instead leaving that to local governments to figure out how to address.
So…Atlanta nearly runs out of water, and the only thing this legislation is addressing is new construction going forward? It wasn’t all the houses coming online in 2012 that dried up the state’s water supply – it is the inefficient fixtures that are installed across the state today, and unfortunately this legislation does absolutely nothing to address that.
But it’s a step in the right direction. Let’s hope maybe that will help demystify low-flow plumbing fixtures and reinforce how well they really work….
Tom Swanston from Serenbe, recently reported that his water use is down 25% from the same period last year, before the WaterSense labeled products were installed. Tom also had this to say:
I am devotee of the products, wish we had the money to install when building, would include them in the future on the water savings $$ alone.
Everyone that comes to the house feels the same as we do about the fixtures
The surprise is that they affected water usage and habits the moment they were installed… the quality of the products is first rate…thanks!
The H2Option toilet features a two button mechanism on top of the tank that allows users to choose between a standard 1.6 gallon flush and a water-saving 1 gallon flush. Not only does the H2Option save water, but it provides a more powerful and efficient flush with a jetted siphonic action which adds push to the water from under the rim of the bowl. When the user flushes the H2Option, some of the water is instantly diverted to the rim of the toilet where there are a series of chambers. The air in these chambers pushes the ongoing coming water forcefully out into the bowl, creating greater suction and thus avoiding clogs.
We found that all the volunteer families – old and young alike – appreciated the difference. The seniors we spoke to mentioned they appreciated the taller commode while children were enthralled by the different flushing options and the “Slow Close” seat cover. Homeowner Marie Miller described the H2Option as “fun” and said that her guests were “blown away” by its special features.
The quality craftsmanship did not go unnoticed, either. Chastain Lakes resident Bob Waterstone told us he was impressed by how “efficient” the flushing mechanism was, and not one family reported a single clog since the new WaterSense-certified toilets were installed. Real estate agent Peg Grady said she told her guests to “trust [her] on the turbo flush!” and noted that there was “no comparison” between her old traditional toilet and the H2Option.
Replacing a standard toilet with the H2Option can save more than 29,000 gallons of water per year. Between the savings on their water bill, the more comfortable height, and the “neat” two button mechanism, the Miller family told us they only wished they had the new fixtures installed sooner. Neighbor Rene Merritt agreed, telling us she was “super satisfied by everything that has happened.”
The phrase “water-saving showerhead” often brings to mind images of a low pressure trickle of water, but as the 11 Chastain Lakes households who received WaterSense-certified showerheads and faucets from American Standard Brands can attest, low-flow does not always mean low-satisfaction.
Real estate agent Peg Grady told us that she “absolutely love[s] them,” adding, “I can’t wait to redo the kitchen and put the same faucet in there as well.” Many families reported that they recommended the American Standard products to their families and friends because they’d found that they were saving on their water bills without having to sacrifice performance.
Advanced technologies and high-quality components have enabled American Standard to offer water savings of up to 40% while continuing to provide consumers with the same level of water pressure they experienced with their old fixtures.
The FloWise showerheads, for example, contain a small turbine-like mechanism that spins the water stream through the head to create a powerful, energizing spray. The result feels much the same as standard 2.5 gpm showerheads, although FloWise uses only 1.5 gpm, which is 40 percent less water than current code requirements for showerheads.
Meanwhile, American Standard’s water conserving faucets feature pressure-compensating aerators that provide 32 percent water savings over standard models, allowing them to meet the EPA’s strict WaterSense maximum flow rate requirement of 1.5 gallons per minute without a noticeable difference in water pressure. According to EPA estimates, the average U.S. household can save over 500 gallons of water annually by installing WaterSense faucets. Additionally, all WaterSense faucets are equipped with washerless ceramic disc valves for a lifetime of water-saving performance and prevention against the potential waste caused by a dripping faucet, which can add up to as many as 2,700 gallons of water per month.
Click here for more information about the Flowise Showerhead and here for details about American Standard’s WaterSense-certified faucets.