The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) and Plumbing Manufacturers Intl. (PMI) released research that shows that water-efficient toilets could potentially save up to 170 billion potable gal of water per year across five states facing water scarcity.
The “Saturation Study of Non-Efficient Water Closets in Key States” focused on Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia and Texas—all states that have experienced serious water shortages. The savings projected by the study (170 billion gal of potable water yearly or 465 million gal saved per day) could be achieved if non-efficient toilets in residential properties are replaced with water-efficient ones. This five-state savings can be extrapolated to an estimate of up to 360 billion potable gal of water per year saved nationally.
This research produces important direction for water managers nationwide, as 40 out of 50 states anticipate water shortages in the coming years, according to a Government Accountability Office survey of state water managers published in 2013, with most of these states already experiencing periodic shortages. The five states researched represent 28% of the national population and 47% of all housing units in 2015, so the report examines a large part of the residential water consumption in the U.S. Toilet flushing is the largest single indoor use of water, representing 24% of total use in single-family homes. Replacing non-efficient toilets with efficient ones is an important strategy to stretch available water supplies.
“This study affirms the important and sometimes overlooked role that water-efficient plumbing products, and programs such as the EPA WaterSense label, play in assuring water sustainability for our nation,” said Mary Ann Dickinson, AWE president and CEO. “We are nowhere near the potential of water savings we can achieve through water efficiency.”
Barbara C. Higgens, PMI CEO/executive director, said plumbing manufacturers are proud of the water-saving innovations they have brought to the marketplace. “Great water-efficiency innovations have already been made and are readily available. Now, it’s time for consumers and businesses to do their part to replace non-efficient toilets, showerheads and faucets with water-efficient ones,” she said.
The five-state water savings estimate was calculated after the study’s research determined that more than 13 million non-efficient toilets, with gallons per flush (gpf) of more than 1.6 gal, remain installed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia and Texas residences. These 13 million toilets comprise about 21% of all toilets installed in these states; therefore, about 79% of installed residential toilets in these states are already efficient at 1.6 gpf or less.
Using the AWE/PMI study estimate of 170 billion gal of water, these examples show how much water can be saved within residential properties located in the five states included in the study:
- Enough water saved to take 10 billion showers—more than one for each person on the planet;
- Enough water saved to serve the indoor home water needs of a city of 100,000 for 45 years;
- Enough water saved to fill 250,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools;
- Enough water saved to fill 1,000 Rose Bowls; and
- Enough water saved to equal the water that goes over Niagara Falls in 2 ½ days.
The AWE/PMI study demonstrates that current plumbing technology can make a tremendous water-saving impact, especially if toilet replacement programs can be accelerated. At the current 4% annual toilet replacement rate, the potential savings illustrated in this study will not occur for another 15 to 30 years unless replacement programs are accelerated.
Source: Alliance for Water Efficiency
