Chico, Sustainable

Water-Saving Tip #212*: The Royal Flush

TIME TO IMPLEMENT TIP: 2 minutes
WATER SAVINGS: 3000-6000 gallons per year for a family of 4.
COST SAVINGS: About $2.50 - $5.00 per year
EQUIPMENT NEEDED: 2-4 glass jars, with lids.

Essentially, this strategy allows your toilet to flush using less water. Simply fill the jars with water or rocks, put the lids on tightly, and place 1-2 into each toilet tank. I placed jars totaling about 1 gallon into the two 3.5 gallon toilets in my house. Flush once to be sure that the placement of the jars does not affect the flushing mechanism. Bricks or large rocks can also work.

The jars effectively reduce the volume of the tank, and less water will be required to fill it. In my case, I reduced the size of each of my toilet tanks by 0.5 gallons. This could potentially affect the ability of your toilet to flush effectively, but speaking personally, I have never had a problem. On the occasion that you do find yourself requiring an extra-long “sit,” just remember to flush twice (once one you think you are halfway done. . .).

For those who desire to conserve more water, have more time, and bigger budget, lower-flush toilets are also available for purchase (1.6 gallons per flush toilets have been standard since 1992), and require even less water to operate. Composting toilets (no water required) are also beginning to gain popularity, though they are not yet approved for use in all cities and counties. I am uncertain of the regulations for Butte County or the City of Chico.

What I would like to see in my house someday is the used water from the bathroom shower and sink (a.k.a “greywater”) being used to fill the tank of a low-flush toilet.

Of course, there is always the "If its yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down" slogan, which does conserve quite a bit of water, but I will save that charming discussion for a later post.

*The number “212” means absolutely nothing.