More and more often we are seeing the effects of eco-friendly communities. It has come to the attention of the general public that protecting our planet is more important now more than ever! There are so many ways we, as citizens of the world, can help! Water conservation is one of those ways!
The conservation of water is extremely important! On average, 5 gallons of water is wasted every time you brush your teeth and don’t turn the water off! Luckily, water conservation is maybe one of the easiest ways to help our planet. Small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference; such as turning off the water while brushing your teeth
Today, however, we want to talk to you about the last option; a low flushing toilet. Making the change to one of these water-friendly appliances can make a substantial impact; as almost 40% of the water you use in your home is used in your bathroom toilet!
What Are Low Flushing Toilets?
Your first question might be what is a low flushing toilet, to begin with, right? A low flushing toilet is simply a toilet that uses approximately 4.8 liters less water every time you flush versus a normal toilet that can use over 6 liters.
Also known as high efficiency, or low-flow toilet, these water-conserving seats have become very popular. In was in 1992 that President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act.
This law put a federal maximum on the amount of water that could be used to flush a toilet, 1.6 gallons. On January 1st, 1994, all residential buildings were forced to conform to the new mandatory law. Also noteworthy, the same law was enforced for commercial buildings in 1997.
How Do Low Flushing Toilets Work?
After the Energy Policy Act was put into place, manufacturers needed to design toilets that would pass the mandatory federal requirements. Though low flushing toilets had been around prior, this was the first time they would be in mass use.
The first toilets that were designed to accommodate the 1.6-gallon restriction were made much like an original toilet. In a normal toilet, a valve opens and water moves into the bowl; which then goes down the drain courtesy of gravity. Unfortunately, with the limited water, the needed power to remove all waste was not there.
Manufacturers were quick to realize the problems and went to work to repair the issues. Low flushing toilets are now just as effective as a regular toilet; plus they are saving even more water! There are two different types of low flushing toilets that you can use:
Gravity Fed Low Flushing Toilet
The first option is very similar to a regular toilet with a few alterations. One change is the valve. Low flushing toilets use a large valve which allows the water to be released more quickly which provides more force.
There are also small changes to the bowl itself. The new models have drains that are centered at the bottom of the bowl, and the bowl itself is deeper in the front. This allows for better water flow down the drain.
Pressure Assisted Low Flushing Toilets
Next up we have the pressure-assisted low flushing toilet. This is more or less exactly how it sounds! The major difference between a regular toilet and a PALFT is in the tank.
Instead of water, you can have either an electric or compressed air device that will be triggered when the toilet flushes. This gives more force to the water being flushed; allowing waste to be removed more rapidly.
Thank You For Doing Your Part!
Having federal laws put into place like the Energy Policy Act is a great step forward, but if it was not for people like you, we would have a much bigger problem on our hands! Making small efforts can have big impacts on our environment!
Water Conservation should be a priority to every citizen of the world, and you are doing your part by simply reading this article! As we forge ahead in the battle to protect our natural resources, at Towers Plumbing we hope you will reconsider a low flushing toilet when the time comes for a replacement.
Remember, without you, our world has no future!