Tame Your Toilet

The toilet is surely one of humanity’s greatest inventions. Without so much as a second thought, you can dispose—quickly, discretely, and hygienically—of your body’s waste. It is the crowning achievement of engineering for the home, and it requires no attention or work, essentially, from the user.

As is the case, however, with so many of our conveniences, generations of complacent flush-toilet use have ushered in an age of dangerous reliance on and abuse of an increasingly scarce natural resource.

The reality is that flush toilets use an enormous amount of water. Most estimates suggest that toilets are the single highest water gulper in the home—accounting single-handedly for over a quarter of the average household’s water use, well ahead of showers, laundry, or anything else. The average toilet uses somewhere between 5 and 7 gallons—as much as 20 litres—of water each time you flush.

Consider a few of these water-saving options, and, most importantly, be aware of the water you’re using.

Flush less often. Seriously, it’s not that big a deal. Implement a household policy that everyone can live with—something along the lines of the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down” concept. This is an especially good idea if you’re hooked up to a septic system.

Cut down the capacity of your tank. Sink a brick or a plastic bottle full of water into the tank at the back of your toilet. You can cut down each flush’s water use by a quarter or even a third, depending on what you choose to sink. Make sure not to interfere with the flushing mechanism.

Buy a low-flush toilet. A wide variety of low-flush options are now available. The truly brave—in rural areas—can look into composting toilets.

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