The problem:

Toilets installed after 1992 use 1.6 gallons/flush. If they were installed before 1992 (and there are millions of them out there!), they use 3.5 gpf. A urinal installed after 1992 uses 1 gpf, while pre 1992 versions use 2-3 gpf. The solution: There are a variety of highly efficient toilets that are available off the shelf and feature proven, tested technologies.

Dual Flush Toilets

Dual-flush toilets feature 2 flush options, 1 for liquid waste and 1 for solid waste. Thus when less water is needed, you can use the lower-flush option. Dual flush toilets typically use 0.8 gpf for liquid waste and the standard 1.6 gpf for solid waste (though the most efficient versions use 1.28 gpf for solid waste). These toilets average water use throughout the course of the day is 1 gpf – a savings of 37%! If you are switching from a pre-1992 toilet (that uses 3.5 gpf) – that is a savings of 72%! Now we’re getting somewhere.

Pressure-assisted toilets

Pressure assisted toilets use air pressure as well as water to remove waste instead of just using more water. With a distinctive whoosing sound (you’ve likely heard this sound in hotels, as many chains use them), waste is forced out. However, many pressure-assisted toilets only use 1 gpf – a savings of nearly 40% compared to conventional toilets.

Waterless urinals

Waterless urinals are exactly what they seem – urinals that require no water to function. In fact, they do not even flush and have no moving parts, which often leads to less maintenance, as there is much less to break or malfunction. Waterless urinals feature a gel sealant, which allows liquids to pass through but prevents gases and odors from coming back up. Simply maintenance to make sure the sealant is in place is all that is needed to eliminate water use 100% from conventional urinals.

Ultra-low flow urinals

Does the thought of going completely waterless still give you jitters? The second best option still offers a 90% saving over standard urinals. These are ultra-high efficiency urinals, which require only a pint of water compared to the standard gallon of water used in conventional toilets.