Water-Efficient Flushometer- Valve Toi lets To help facilities become more water-efficient, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a draft specification for flushometer- valve toilets to earn the WaterSense® label in the future. WaterSense labeled flushometer-valve toilets will be at least 20 percent more water-efficient than the current federal standard, flushing no more than 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf), IMPROVING FLUSH EFFICIENCY Flushometer-valve toilets, known as flushometer-valve water closets in plumbing standards, are typically found in commercial, institutional, or industrial restrooms located in places such as airports, theaters, stadiums, schools, and office buildings. These types of toilets have two main components—the toilet bowl and the flushometer valve. EPA estimates that about 28 percent, or 7.6 million, of the 27 million flushometer-valve toilets currently installed in commercial and institutional facilities across the country flush at volumes higher than the federal standard of 1.6 gpf—some as much as 3 to 7 gpf. FLUSH WITH SAVINGS Replacing an old, inefficient flushometer-valve toilet with a WaterSense labeled model could save a business more than 5,400 gallons of water and more than $1,000 over the lifetime of the toilet. If all old, inefficient commercial flushometer-valve toilets were replaced with WaterSense labeled models, we could save more than 41 billion gallons of water per year across the country. That's equivalent to the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls every 24 hours! PERFORAAANCE AAATTERS Like all WaterSense labeled products, flushometer- valve toilets will be required to be independently certified for performance. In addition to meeting existing commercial plumbing codes and standards, WaterSense labeled models must pass additional tests, WaterSense labeled flushometer-valve toilets will be independently certified for both water efficiency and performance. such as the ability to flush a toilet seat cover. Research conducted by the Plumbing Efficiency Research Council in 2012 found that drainline carry (i.e., the ability of water to remove waste through a building's drainline) was not a significant concern at flush volumes of 1.28 gpf. To learn more about the proposed water efficiency and performance criteria for flushometer-valve toilets, review the Draft WaterSense Specification for Flushometer-Valve Water Closets on the WaterSense website. LOOK FOR THE LABEL LATER IN 2015 In the future, businesses, institutions, and other commercial facilities will be able to look for the WaterSense label on flushometer-valve toilets. For more information, visitwww.epa.gov/watersense. PHONE (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) WEBSITE www.epa.gov/watersense EMAlLwatersense@epa.gov &EFA EPA-832-F-13-003 December 2014 ------- |