Is your toilet costing you money?

Odds are the answer is YES.

It may come as a surprise to learn that in the US the toilet is where most of the water in a home is used & wasted. 

On average 30% of all potable water used in a household is for flushing the toilets. If your toilets are older than 1992 then that percentage could be even higher. When we consider the growing problem of water shortages across the country I have to ask why. "Why do we use potable fresh water to flush human feces and urine down the drain?" This is a self indulgent luxury that borders on insanity. We are running out of fresh water but yet we use it as though it were an inexhaustible resource. 

As this practice is ingrained in our lifestyle, and designed into the infrastructure of our communities, correcting this absurd behavior will take time and money. To start we can take some basic steps to minimizing the waste of potable water we use to flush toilets. One of the most cost effective and simplest things you can do is convert your current toilet into a dual flush toilet. Of the many kits available I recommend the DualFlush Pro. This kit has all the components needed to replace all of the old parts in a standard tank type two piece toilet. For under $35 (including shipping) you get a new fill valve, dual action flush valve and dual action flush lever (not a push button), all gaskets and tank bolts. I was so impressed with the quality of design and simplicity of installation, I posted a video on YouTube demonstrating the installation in less than 10 minutes. A dual flush toilet can save over 5000 gallons of water per year. 
A couple other brand I have tested include the Hydro Right by MJSI and Select A Flush kit.


Thanks for checking in.
AP

www.AskAquaPro.com
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com 
www.AquaProSolutions.com
www.AquaEnvi.org
www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com

EPA allows pesticides to be applied to water.

Pesticides can be sprayed or added directly into or near bodies of water to control mosquito larvae and weeds, without special permitting under the Clean Water Act. On November 21 2006, the U.S. EPA finalized that decision, which affects both direct and airborne pesticide applications to water.

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AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com 
www.AquaEnvi.org
www.AquaProSolutions.com
www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com

The new Stealth toliets by Niagara Conservation get a big thumbs up from AquaPro & the AERC

I am happy to report that the new MaP testing station at the Aqua Environmental Resource Center in Asheville is functional. Although it is an unofficial test facility it does provide an opportunity for unbiased performance evaluations. Although I understand the necessity of establishing uniform testing standards and criteria, I also live in the real world. Official MaP testing adheres to EPA mandated criteria that isn't necessarily representative of "real world use" of a toilet. It's based on averages; and people are not all average. 


So on to our initial test subjects. As one of the first facilities/showrooms in the US to receive the Stealth toilet for testing and demonstration, we were eager to do a performance evaluation of the new toilet by Niagara Conservation. The Stealth toilet is one very unique toilet indeed. It is the only gravity flush two piece toilet currently on the market that flushes on less than one gallon of water. The Stealth toilet uses only 0.8 gallons per flush; that is half the amount of water allowed by mandates established in the mid 1990's. It is almost one half gallon less than the new High Efficiency Toilet (HET) standard of 1.28gpf established recently by the EPA Water Sense Program. The Stealth toilet is way ahead of the curve with the Ultra High Efficiency Toilet (UHET) rating of 0.8 gallons per flush (gpf). 
 
Remembering the fiasco of the mid 90's when toilets were forced into the market before they had been adequately evaluated for performance, we were initially skeptical of the Stealth toilets and anxious to test it's performance. I am a strong advocate for products that help improve water conservation. I evaluate a lot of products because I know that not all of them actually perform as they claimed by manufacturers. The concern for me is that consumers won't buy in to the idea of conservation if they have bad experiences with new products. 

The Stealth toilets performance was impressive to say the least. When testing toilets at the AERC we use varying size and weight combination of test material to more accurately represent what may be present in a real world environment. Our test matter sizes vary in all three categories and are both larger and smaller than EPA recommendations. The Stealth toilet consistently flushed 750 grams of test matter; soy paste in latex sleeve of varying sizes and weights. We were successful up to 800 grams although inconsistently. We found that above 750 grams the Stealth performed more consistently with test matter in line with the EPA standards of 3/4" diameter, 4"length weighing 50 grams each. By all means still a very impressive performance. 


Niagara's Stealth toilet has proven it's ability to clear the toilet bowl on such a small volume of water. There are other things of very relevant importance when considering whether a toilet is going to perform well on any given plumbing system. We not only want to fully clear waste from the bowl, but we also want the waste be carried properly down the pipe and into the general "stream" of sewerage so to speak. With only 0.8gpf to carry the waste this becomes a bit of an issue. Not insurmountable but potentially problematic in older homes. The strait horizontal carry distance of the Stealth toilet is not greater than 20 feet. What this means is that if you have less than 20ft horizontal run with no changes in direction to the nearest vertical plumbing stack, you have nothing to be concerned about. If the run is over 20 feet or there are offsets in the line you will need to be sure there is an additional fixture between the toilet and the stack to help wash the waste down the drain. I could spend a lot more time on options for this scenario but we'll leave it for you to inquire if you have any specific questions. All in all the Stealth toilet is well worth the investment. Particularly in multistory apartment building, condos, hotels and high rise buildings which tend to have shorter horizontal runs of plumbing waste piping. 

Another consideration is the manufacturer. Niagara Conservation has proven to be reliable and conscientious. They have brought to market two of the most innovative toilet design changes in decades. The Niagara Flapperless Toilet in 1.6gpf or 1.28gpf, and now the Stealth Toilet; all of which are highly recommended by AquaPro, as are most of Niagara Conservation products. 


 AP

www.AskAquaPro.com
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com  


www.AquaProSolutions.com, www.AquaEnvi.org, www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com,

WaterSense News: Approved Showerheads Coming Soon!

Good news for water efficiency is on the horizon. On March 4, EPA WaterSense division announced the final specification for showerheads. Manufacturers can now submit showerheads for testing to qualify for the WaterSense label. Consumers will soon be able to renovate their bathrooms utilizing a full suite of WaterSense labeled products.   

If every household in the United States installed WaterSense labeled showerheads, it would save Americans more than $1.5 billion on their water bills, and more than 250 billion gallons per year. That is enough water to supply more than 2.5 million U.S. homes with the water they need for a year. In addition, this simple change would also reduce the nation’s heating water energy bills by $2.5 billion.

Standard showerheads use a minimum of 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm). WaterSense labeled showerheads will have been tested and to demonstrate that they use no more than 2.0 gpm. As with all WaterSense specifications, EPA included performance criteria to ensure a good shower experience. EPA worked with a variety of stakeholders—including consumers who tested various showerheads—to develop criteria for water coverage and spray intensity. Independent laboratories test showerheads for these attributes before certifying them to earn the WaterSense label.

Whether they are replacing an older, inefficient showerhead or simply looking for ways to reduce water use and utility bills in the home, consumers can look for the WaterSense label on showerheads, faucets, aerators and toilets to help identify models that save water and conform to the WaterSense guidlines for quality and performance. EPA encourages partners and interested to help raise awareness about WaterSense labeled showerheads when they begin to hit the marketplace in April!  For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

If manufacturers have questions about joining WaterSense or having products tested for WaterSense labeling, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or e-mail watersense@epa.gov.

Stop by again soon,

AP

www.AskAquaPro.com
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com 

www.AquaProSolutions.com, www.AquaEnvi.org, www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com,

Can I Save My Old Toilet or Should I Buy A New One?

Here's a great question submitted to AskAquaPro.com on Nov 3, 2009.
Ron Whitworth asked;
"Can I make my existing toilet more water efficient rather than throwing it away?"

Well Ron the short answer is, I hope you can.
I am a big fan of minimizing the amount of waste that goes into our landfills, and converting/upgrading your existing toilet rather than throwing it away is one thing I definitely encourage; under the right circumstances. There are plenty of “do it yourself tricks” out there that can be much more trouble than benefit so do your home work before deciding on what will work best for you. The good news is there are viable, effective, affordable options for improving the efficiency of a toilet rather than throwing it away and spending $$$ for a new High Efficiency Toilet (HET or UHET).

A couple things to consider;
a) If the current toilet uses more than 3.5 gallons of water per flush you should bite the bullet and get a new toilet. You will recover the cost of buying a new toilet pretty quickly by replacing these old water hogs. Get rid of it.
b) If you have a pressured assist toilet it can not be modified.

One of the most cost effective ways to improve water efficiency in a toilet is to convert it to a dual-flush. The Dual Flush Pro toilet conversion kit makes this easy to do and cost’s less than $55. This kit comes with everything you need to turn your existing toilet into a Dual Flush water saver toilet in about thirty minutes. The handle has a dual function; push one way for ½ flush to remove liquid waste and push the other way for full flush to remove solid waste.
For most major brand 1.6 gallon per flush toilets the kit is pretty well set up right out of the box to provide a 0.8 gallon half flush and 1.6 gallon full flush. Not all toilets are created equal. Some models will require adjustments to the factory settings of whichever kit you decide to use. These adjustments are simple with the Dual Flush Pro kit.

Thanks for asking,
AquaPro
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com
Aqua Environmental Resource Center

What is a Flapperless Toilet?

This is revolutionary flush technology. I love it when manufacturers think outside the box. It's about time someone redesigned the gravity flush toilet. This is so simple you have to wonder why it hasn't been done sooner. Maybe the flapper manufacturing companies had something to do with keeping the simplicity of this design off the market?

Standard toilet designs contain rubber flush balls that can leak due to improper seating or normal “wear and tear” from corrosive minerals in the water. This is not the case with a “true” flapperless toilet, which has NO sealing devices that control the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. A “true” flapperless toilet eliminates all such sealing devices and resultant concerns for the water conservation industry. In the Niagara Flapperless® tank, water is self-contained in either a 1.28- or 1.6-gallon “tipping bucket”.

There has been some confusion in the industry regarding flapperless toilets. A number of manufacturers with unconventional flappers are attempting to define their flexible seal as “flapperless”. Any flexible seal controlling the flow of water from the tank to the bowl can eventually deteriorate and leak. As a result, the user will waste water or, alternatively, have to replace the flexible seal, possibly increasing the consumed water amount per flush and compromising water conservation gains – something that is crucial we avoid, given the growing need to save water.

True Flapperless Technology: The only gravity-flush toilet that controls water flow with the use of patented “tipping bucket” technology, eliminating rubber flappers and flexible seals in the toilet tank.

The Niagara Flapperless® “Tipping Bucket” technology contains no flush balls or flappers. It’s virtually maintenance-free and will never leak.

As a conservationist company, it has been an ongoing challenge to keep the user from unintentionally or intentionally converting a 1.28- or 1.6-gallon per flush (GPF) toilet to a higher amount of consumed water per flush after the flexible seal has been replaced. A “true” flapperless toilet addresses this issue. The user will not have the responsibility of detecting possible leaks from a flexible seal within the tank and the additional challenge of locating the right replacement part – simply because with a Niagara Flapperless™, there is no maintenance involved, and no leaky seals to replace – EVER! A “true” flapperless toilet will remain a permanent 1.28- or 1.6 gallon per flush fixture!

Details about the Niagara toilet:

The Niagara Flapperless® TANK
• Water is self-contained in either a 1.28- or 1.6-gallon
“tipping bucket”
• Solid porcelain construction – 100% vitreous china
• Oversized to cover unsightly wall exposure
• Opposable handle positioning

The Niagara Flapperless® BOWL
• Oversized footprint
• Adjustable 10” to 12” rough-in
• Fully glazed 2 1/8” trap way
• Oversized throat
• 28 separate siphon jets around the rim a plus!

Niagara Flapperless® BENEFITS
• Two of our models are ADA-approved HET!
• The EcoLogic™ 1.28 gpf HET toilets meet EPA WaterSense® criteria
• Our EcoLogic™ 1.28 gpf HET elongated model meets HET
R
ebate standards
• Powerful one-time flushing
• Less moveable parts to leak and break
• Easy flush action
• Top-rated flushing system
• Ten-year warranty on component parts
• Lifetime warranty on porcelain

The 1.6 & 1.28 GPF Niagara Flapperless® toilet offers water and related utility bill savings without sacrificing performance or comfort. Because of its unique, patented flush system, the Niagara Flapperless® will never leak, and it is maintenance-free. This toilet has been through comprehensive industry testing and performed exceptionally. Available in both round and elongated bowl types, the 1.6 GPF Niagara

Flapperless® toilet has a number of appealing features:
• Tamper-proof flush, cannot exceed 1.6 or1.28 GPF
• Large water spot
• New high-performance bowl hydraulics
• Fluidmaster fill valve seal
• No flapper to leak or replace – EVER!
• 10-year warranty on components
• Lifetime warranty on porcelain
• Large 10” x 20” footprint, ideal for retrofitting
• Meets ULFT rebate standards
• No maintenance necessary
• Uses 54% less water than a 3.5 GPF toilet (1.6gpf model)
• No double-flushing required
• Sweat-free tank
• Adjustable rough-in
• Fully glazed 2 1/8” trap-way

If a family of four replaced a 3.5-gallon per flush toilet made between 1980 and 1994 with the Niagara Flapperless® 1.6GPF toilet, they will save 20,805 gallons of water A YEAR!
Aside from its superior, unique flush system and other benefits detailed above, a Niagara Flapperless® toilet is affordable. With the help of a Niagara Flapperless® toilet, save water and money, experience advanced performance, and feel the power of Niagara!

See how it works- http://www.aquaprosolutions.com/index_files/Niagara_Conservation.htm

This is probably the smartest toilet design on the market.
That’s what I think. What do you think?
AP

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Water Conservation by Aqua Pro Solutions

As population growth increases the demand on potable water supplies throughout the world, many regions are experiencing severe water shortages. This problem is amplified by current drought conditions and is causing many government officials and municipal leaders to re-think existing conservation strategies.

Water conservation refers to reducing use of fresh water through technological or social methods. The goals of water conservation efforts include:

Sustainability - To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate.
Energy conservation - Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world (for example, California) over 15% of total electricity consumption is devoted to water management.
Habitat conservation - Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure.

One approach that the media endorses is asking consumers to make behavioral changes that will reduce water consumption in their homes and businesses. While the tips they offer are useful and excellent advice, they are simply not enough. Many people have other concerns that fill their minds, let alone planning and making the extra effort that is required to save water. This is where AquaPro Solutions’ products and services can help.

Installing water conservation and water recycling fixtures is the first step in successful long-term conservation planning. Some simple and inexpensive measures such as changing old water wasting showerheads and faucet aerators for more efficient ones can result in tremendous savings. Significant amounts of water can also be conserved by changing to a new high efficiency toilet (HET). Some local municipalities offer rebate incentives to consumers who make this change. Another possibility is installing a point-of-use or whole house greywater reclamation system.

We know that there are several ways to reduce water usage and understand that individual customer needs may vary. Therefore, AquaPro Solutions offers these and other water conservation products:

§ High Efficiency Toilets (HET)
§ Low-flow aerators
§ Water-less urinals
§ Water saving / energy saving showerheads
§ Waterless urinals
§ Automatic flood prevention devices
§ Greywater recycling/reclamation systems
§ Rainwater harvesting barrels
§ Water conserving industrial pre-rinse spray nozzles
§ Demand control hot water circulating systems

As part of our commitment to educating consumers and assisting them with meeting their water conservation goals, AquaPro Solutions has partnered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the EPA WaterSense Program. Additionally, we are charter members of the U.S. Green Building Council. Many AquaPro products count toward LEED point accumulation in building projects.

Contact AquaPro Solutions LLC today to learn how you can conserve water, improve water quality and make a difference in the future of our planet.

www.AquaProSolutions.com