Photo by Andrea Davis on Unsplash
One of the most promising developments in reducing water consumption, is the development of "dual flush toilets." They are being installed in both commercial and residential settings.
Their promise is this:
By releasing a smaller amount of water for liquid waste and a larger amount for solid waste, overall, the toilet will use about 1.28 gallons of water per flush instead of 1.6, the current standard, and required minimum.
However, just published tests by water-saving organizations in the U.K. are painting a different picture. They say that between five percent and eight percent of these toilets are leaking water. This is the result of the dual flush mechanism installed in these toilets.
In the U.K., it is estimated that nearly 90 million gallons of water
are lost each day due to this failure.
In many ways, we could say this is a "drop in the bucket," since millions of gallons of water are wasted in most water systems worldwide.
However, this number mounts up. According to the BBC, it is enough water to supply nearly three million people annually.
But there is something more to consider as well. In most cases, people have selected these toilets because they want to save water. That really is the only reason to select them. Imagine their surprise when they realize their facility (or homes) water consumption has gone up since installing these toilets.
And one more thing: how many of us check our water bills that carefully? Many people never even realize they are wasting water, and if they do, it could be years after these toilets have been installed.
As we mentioned, this information has been uncovered recently, in mid-2020. Now, water companies are asking bathroom manufacturers to "design this problem out of existence," reports the BBC. "Individual companies have gone into looking at the issue… but haven't cracked what the underlying issue is. [However,] there is a commercial and moral imperative [for them] to ensure their products reduce leakage wherever possible."
While the story focused on the U.K, what is happening there is likely happening with dual flush toilets in our country and around the world. So, what can building owners, managers, and homeowners do to see if their toilets and other fixtures are leaking water and make sure their water-saving fixtures are really saving water?
Among them are the following:
The food color test. Lift the tank lid and pour a small amount of food coloring in the tank. If the coloring appears in the bowl – before flushing - it means there is a leak.
The shutoff test. With the water turned off to the toilet, flush the toilet. The water should now be at the bottom of the tank. Mark the water level. Wait a few hours. If the water has dropped further, this typically indicates a leak.
The drop level test. First, get a calculator. Second, have a "drink" handy. It might make this test a bit easier.
Then do this:
Turn off the water to the tank.
Measure the length and the width of the tank in inches.
Measure how much water is in the tank, starting from the tank's bottom to the top water level (this is depth 1).
Flush the toilet and measure the drop from the bottom of the thank to the current water level (this is depth 2).
Subtract depth 2 from depth 1. This provides the "drop measurement."
Multiply the length of the tank times the width of the tank times the "drop measurement." This gives you the volume of cubic inches of water used per flush.
Next to the final step. Divide the volume by 231. This will reveal the total number of gallons per flush.
Grab the drink, celebrate, or if you made a mistake, start over.
Example:
Step 2 – Length: 17.5
Step 3 – Width: 7
Step 4 – Full level: 6
Step 5 – Low level: 3.5
Step 6 – 6 minus 3.5 = 2.5
Step 7 – 17.5 x 7 x 2.5 = 306.25
Step 8 – 306.25 divided by 231 = 1.32
