Water Conservation (buy, maintenance, tax)

[Tim Rankin]

In addition to the extra humidity Mortimer mentions, all the extra water supports lots of trees/plants that otherwise might not be here. Some of these trees produce huge amounts of pollen that seriously affects allergy sufferers. Elm, mulberry...even the cottonwoods wouldn't be as prevalent in the Heights, were it not for the availability of easy water.

Fortunately for its water-hungry residents, the city has managed to steal...errr, I mean, divert water resources from the Chama River basin. This will address the city's future water needs in a huge way, and may also explain Intel's recent decision to beef up their RR operation. Computer chip production needs lots & lots of water.

[lalahartma]

Originally Posted by hopeful transplant

Song - I'm the only one that uses my 'loo', so I conserve on the number of flushes in a day.... works for me. Probably way TMI, aye?

Me too!

[songinthewind7]

Nothing wrong with that.
I wonder how these newer toilets make the cut. Our toilets are the older ones.
Guess the newer ones use less water?
Don't know but flushing less I've been told does conserve water and whatever works is okay for me.

[mortimer]

songinthewind7, in a toilet report said:

> Our toilets are the older ones.
> Guess the newer ones use less water?

You can force an older toilet to use less water per flush by putting
something in the basin ( behind the bowl, under the porcelain lid ).

I've seen articles where they recommend a brick or two, but anything
that displaces water will work such as a glass bottle full of water.
The bottle doesn't need to be capped and it doesn't matter if it sticks
above the full water line or not.

I would tend not to use a brick in case flakes of the brick made their
way into the circuit, but it probably doesn't matter.

Every time your toilet flushes, less water will pour into your bowl
so it might have a lower level.

[songinthewind7]

I was just reading to use 2 plastic bottles filled about 2 inches of sand or some pebbles and then filled with water in the tank may save 10 gallons of water per day but to be sure to keep 3 gallons in the tank for flushing.
Also to check for leaks in toilets, to put some food coloring in the tank and without flushing, if the color appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak.

[mortimer]

Earlier, I wrote:

> > ... anything that displaces water will work ...

songinthewind7 added:

> ... 2 plastic bottles filled about 2 inches of sand or some pebbles ...

That would displace water, yes. The sand or pebbles
would be to keep the plastic from floating in the tank.

> ... may save 10 gallons of water per day but to
> be sure to keep 3 gallons in the tank for flushing.

It's probably more helpful to think in terms of saving-per-flush.

If you have a 5-gallon toilet and displace 2-gallons (keeping 3 gallons)
then you save 2-gallons/flush. You save ten gallons if you flush ten times.

If you are only home to flush once in the morning and once later that day
then you save four gallons.

If you have a party and twenty people use the toilet an average of 1.5
times per person you saved sixty gallons.

It's just math.

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by mortimer

If you have a party and twenty people use the toilet an average of 1.5 times per person you saved sixty gallons.

There are some scenarios where during a party, the 5 gal. flush might, uhhhh...come in handy.

[TKO]

I have to admit, one of my weaknesses is loving a good flushing toilet. I hate those girly efficient ones (we have one at our cabin in Cloudcroft). They cause nothing but trouble. If you could put a turbo charger on them they'd be a good thing but when it takes 4 flushes to finish the job you're not saving any water anyway. I try to be conscious of saving water in lots of other ways though.

[chilegal]

We just put in a new toilet and if holds 1.6 gal. Love it! It works great with any type of flush-if ya know what I mean..
The best part was it cost $88. at home depot.

[mortimer]

TKO admitted:

> I have to admit, one of my weaknesses is loving a good flushing toilet.

I have a weakness for good Scotch, but to each their own.

> I hate those girly efficient ones ... cause nothing but trouble.

Early low-flow models didn't work very well. They just put a smaller
tank on the back and off you went, but the toilet didn't ...

> If you could put a turbo charger on them they'd be a good thing ...

Most people don't complain about the newer models.

In Asia, they have two flush types - "big" and "small" - usually written
in the Chinese character for "big" and "small." It really is the best solution.

"Small" for little wee-wee's.

"Big" for after Big Brutus lays some serious pipe.

Most people are smart enough to make the right decision for the toilet.

I imagine some of those fancy new Japanese toilets have sensor.
(Can you imagine the testing lab?)