The Environment and the Toilet

In the case of plumbing products the buzz phrase isthe issue of efficient plumbing, developing affordable
"water efficiency", or how much water a particularhighly efficient toilets that, unlike most traditional
faucet, shower, or toilet consumes every time it isNorth American toilets, which consume 3.5 gallons
used. Water restrictions, drought, availability of(13.25 L) per flush, consume about 1.6 gallons (6.1 L)
potable water, and waste are all increasinglyper flush - a reduction of around fifty percent. If one
important issues as consumers begin to demandconsiders the number of flushes per day per home, it
plumbing products that reduce their home's overallequates to a significant savings in water consumption
operational cost, as well as its environmental footprintand strain on a city, town, or municipality's water
on the planet.supply.
Water meters or not, wasteful toilets mean a strainBeyond reduced volume per flush, Toto also
on municipal water supplies, which in turn meanproduces toilets with dual flush systems that allow
additional costly infrastructure upgrades forthe user to choose between a solid waste flush and
municipalities, as well as pressure on hydro companiesa lower volume liquid waste flush - an added benefit
to provide additional water supply through new damsthat further reduces consumption. For those with
and hydro projects. These hydro projects not onlybigger budgets, Toto also has electronic seats, a
have an impact on the natural environment, they alsonifty gadget that replaces toilet paper, hence
mean higher energy costs to consumers, as waterreducing the quantity of solid waste. Currently these
and money are flushed literally down the toilet.more sophisticated toys are available through
Companies such as Toto and Porcher have tackledFinestFixtures by special phone order only.