Media Release (PDF >)
In tough economic times, water conservation can help reduce not only your home’s water and wastewater charges, but also your energy bills. One of the most effective ways to conserve is by replacing your old water guzzling toilets with more efficient models. And, Cascade Water Alliance offers even more savings with a $100 rebate for upgrading to the next generation of toilets called “high efficiency toilets,” or HETs.
If you purchased one of the first generation low-flow toilets back in the 1990s, you may equate high efficiency with poor performance. Many early model low-flow toilets required multiple flushes and clogged frequently establishing a bad reputation that still endures. How times have changed. Today’s top performing HETS have been redesigned. They work great and conserve valuable water resources.
About HETs and WaterSense®
HETs use a maximum of 1.28 gallons per flush, or 20% less than standard toilets. The best performing HETs receive a special label called WaterSense®. WaterSense® is a national program that awards the WaterSense® label to HETs that have demonstrated equal or superior flushing performance. The label is only awarded to toilets that are certified by an independent laboratory to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency.
There are over 400 WaterSense® labeled toilet models, and they come in all styles and price ranges. All major manufacturers offer WaterSense® models and all local retailers and most plumbers carry WaterSense® toilets.
Cascade Customers Speak
Last year, hundreds of households took advantage of Cascade’s WaterSense® toilet replacement program. In addition to the utility bill and water savings, customers are reporting great performance from the new toilets. In a recent survey, 93% of residents rated the performance of their new HETs as excellent or good and 96% said the new toilets performed as well or better than their old toilets.
Tremendous Savings Potential
If every home and business in King County replaced its old toilets with WaterSense® labeled models the resulting water savings would be between 15 – 20 million gallons per day. That’s millions of gallons of drinking water that wouldn’t need to be produced and then treated again as wastewater easing the strain on pumps and pipelines and deferring development of new utility infrastructure and energy production. It’s water that could remain in streams and aquifers to benefit salmon and other species and provide recreation to residents.
Free Recycling of Old Toilets
Cascade offers a free recycling service for the old toilets for customers participating in the program. The old toilets must have the seats and all parts from the tank removed. They can be dropped off at one of five recycling centers where they are crushed and used in construction material.
So whether you’re remodeling a bathroom or simply replacing an old, leaky toilet that is wasting money and water, look for the WaterSense® label when you’re shopping for a new toilet. You’ll see reliable performance and benefits for your home and the environment with every flush. Visit Cascade’s WaterSense® Toilet Replacement Program page at cascadewater.org to see eligible models, customer reviews and more.
| Cascade Water Alliance representative hands out free low-flow shower heads to the public at the Kirkland PCC grocery store (10/24/09) |  |
