Frugal Flushing

Toilet flushing is the single highest use of water in the average home, so it also presents a prime opportunity for water conservation. According to the 2016 Residential End Uses of Water Study, the average American flushes 5 times per day, accounting for 24 percent of their daily water use. There are lots of ways to conserve toilet water use, from habit changes and mechanical adjustments to replacement. Home Water Works gives you the information you need to maximize toilet water use efficiency in your home.

Install a new, WaterSense-labeled toilet model to save water.

The WaterSense label is used on toilets that are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency. Only toilets that complete the third-party certification process can earn the WaterSense label. Federal law currently mandates that all toilets manufactured in the United States use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush, but WaterSense-labeled models only require 1.28 gallons or less per flush. Toilets made from the early 1980s to 1992 typically used 3.5 gallons per flush (13.2 liters) or more. Toilets made prior to 1980 typically used 5.0 to 7.0 or high gallons per flush (18.9 lpf to 26.5 lpf). The oldest toilets can use more than 8 gallons per flush (30 lpf).