Product Review: Ultra-low Flush Toilets

Then there was the new and improved low-flush toilet, which was better but still not what always got the job done. And finally, the ultra-low flush toilet arrived; you now have your choice of flushing as little as 3 liters (.8 gallons) with dual flush units and up to 6 liters (1.6 gallons) with other styles and models.

What's different between these water saving toilets and a conventional 13 liter (3.4 gallon) toilet? In some cases the tank and bowl have been redesigned to maintain the same flush performance with less water. In many cases, the tank still holds 13 liters of water, but only 6 are flushed through at a time. Some toilets have become flapper-less, while others known as a dual flush toilet which permit the user to select between a "half flush" for liquid waste and a "full flush" for solid waste. And there are even waterless urinals; talk about water conservation! You can see you have options to fit your various needs.

Gravity-fed ultra-low flush toilets have essentially the same design as our familiar water-hog gravity designed toilets, but a valve-siphon mechanism has replaced the ball cock we are so familiar with.

Pressure-assisted flush toilets reduce water consumption by 20-45% over gravity-fed ultra-low flush toilets. These toilets are familiar fixtures in public restrooms. Its biggest drawback is the noise factor, quite substantial in some cases.

The dual-flush toilet has a light- and a heavy-duty flush. The light flush, typically selected 80% of the time, helps conserve up to 50% of toilet water usage. Compared to other types of low-flush toilets, this toilet may save an average of 26% more water; think how much more it saves over the old 13 liter toilets. Australians are required by law to use dual flush toilets and had them long before the U.S. discovered their water-conserving secret. Caroma has been the world leader in dual-flush toilets, but other toilet manufacturers are starting to introduce the concept, giving consumers a choice in which brand they buy, suiting their tastes and fashion.

I first discovered the dual-flush toilet when a plumbing supply house demonstrated its power with a display that showed three and four tennis balls being flushed without clogging the toilet, using half- and full-flushes. It was an impressive display, impressive enough I bought four Caromas; one for my guesthouse and three for my new house. Its biggest drawback is the "streaking" that happens occasionally, which may not be an issue in a hospitality environment where the toilet is cleaned daily. A secondary drawback is that if you "hit and run" � not hitting the button all the way down � the flush is lighter than designed and may not clear the bowl adequately; a more focused effort works fine every time though.

Numerous manufacturers offer lots of makes and models of ultra-low flush toilets, including Caroma, TOTO, Niagara Conservation Corporation, Western Pottery, Rainharvesting, Fowler, Mansfield Plumbing Products, American Standard, Kohler, Briggs, and Sloan.

I haven't seen statistics for the hospitality industry on this, but in residential and office situations where there are an average of ten flushes a day, owners experience anywhere from a 5-9 year payback when using a dual flush toilet, depending on the price of water and the purchase price of the toilet. You mayhave an added financial incentive from your community; investigate whether your state or community is offering tax rebates or financial incentives to retrofit old toilets or install in new construction ultra-low flush toilets. (Don't forget to recycle your old porcelain toilets.)

Between the water and sewer savings, and possible tax rebate or other financial incentives, ultra-low flush toilets are an ECOnomically Sound investment.

See the test for yourself.
Research Highlights

To learn more about several toilets.
Caroma U.S.A.
Toto U.S.A.
Niagara
Rain Harvesting
Fowler
Mansfield
American Standard U.S.A.
Kohler
Briggs