Choosing the Right Toilet

You've probably noted that some low-flow toilets seem to have a problem getting everything to flush through the first time. Toilets are like anything else -- some are designed well and some are not. Unfortunately, since the performance of toilets is not a common subject, most people don't know which toilets are good ones and which toilets are not so good. The following information should help you make a better choice when purchasing a low-flow toilet.

Maximum Performance (MaP)

MaP is a testing program for toilets devised in 2003 by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) and the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC). While there are many different testing protocols for toilets, this program is generally considered the best. The tenth edition of the Map Testing Report was completed in July 2007 and evaluates 470 toilets. It is available on the CCWA and CUWCC web sites. The following versions are linked directly from the CUWCC web site:

bulletThe Full MaP Report -- This version is a complete description of the testing process along with the results. Many people will not be interested in the process, only the results. If so, choose one of the other two versions below.
bulletMaP Report Appendix B -- This part of the report shows the results of the tests sorted by manufacturer. Using this report makes it easy to find a specific brand of toilet but may make it more difficult to find the toilets that perform the best.
bulletMaP Report Appendix C -- This part of the report shows the results of the tests sorted by each toilet's ability to get the job done. Using this report makes it easy to find a toilet that does a good job but may make it more difficult to find a specific brand of toilet. (Since finding a toilet that performs well is the main objective, this is the most commonly used report.)

Now that you have these reports, how do you use them to choose a better functioning toilet? The charts are full of information, which column is the most significant? The most significant column is the one identified as MaP Flush Performance. There are three generally recognized thresholds for performance in this column. A rating of 250 is the minimum recommended by the people who invented the MaP test. A rating of 350 is the minimum recommended by the EPA WaterSense program. A rating of 500 is the minimum recommended by many water service providers throughout the country. In all cases, the higher the MaP number, the better the performance.

Once you've identified what level of performance fits your needs, there are several other things you should consider. Any toilet with the designation HET is a high-efficiency toilet that uses even less water. Obviously, the less water you use, the more water you'll save and the lower your water and sewer bills will be. The designation SPS means the toilet meets the Los Angeles specifications for water savings sustainability (meaning the toilet is expected to continue to save water for many years). The designation WS indicates a toilet has passed the EPA's WaterSense tests. Generally speaking, the more of these designations a toilet has, the better the toilet is for water conservation. 

Expected Savings in Water and Costs

Toilets generally fall into four categories: those built prior to the 1950s (7 gallons per flush); toilets from the 60s and 70s (5.5 gallons per flush); toilets from the 80s (3.5 gallons per flush; and toilets after 1992 (1.6 gallons per toilet). In addition, there is a special category of post-1992 toilet called a high-efficiency toilet (HET) that uses between 0.9 and 1.28 gallons per flush.

bulletA replacement ultra-low flow toilet (ULFT) results in the following savings:
bulletReplacing a 7-gallon per flush toilet will save 5.4 gallons per flush (77%).
bulletReplacing a 5-gallon per flush toilet will save 3.4 gallons per flush (70%).
bulletReplacing a 3.5-gallon per flush toilet will save 1.9 gallons per flush (54%).
 
bulletA replacement high-efficiency toilet (HET) results in the following savings:
bulletReplacing a 7-gallon per flush toilet will save 5.7 gallons per flush (81%).
bulletReplacing a 5-gallon per flush toilet will save 3.7 gallons per flush (74%).
bulletReplacing a 3.5-gallon per flush toilet will save 2.2 gallons per flush (63%).

In general terms, if the average person in your home or business flushes three times a day and you replace a 1980s toilet with an HET, you would save around seven gallons per day. If you get both water and sewer service from the City of Villa Rica, a three-person household or business office would save over 600 gallons a month and around $40.00 per year on your water bills. The more people who work in your business or live in your home, the greater the potential for savings. Replacing older toilets also results in greater savings.

Do Septic Tanks Benefit From Using Low Flow Toilets?

Yes, if you are on a septic tank instead of city sewer, you can still realize two potential savings in costs. First, your water bill will go down, though not as much as if you were on both water and sewer. Second, flows to your septic tank will go down putting less stress on the septic system. Less stress can result in less need for cleanouts and a longer lifespan for your septic system.