09.02.09
Most of the water usage in the average Central Coast home takes place in the bathroom. The top user in that room is the toilet. But, new innovations with toilets may help curb those numbers.
"We sell loads of these," Pacific Coast Kitchen and Bath Owner Brian Metcalf says of dual-flush toilets. "I think the word is out."
The toilets have the option to use significantly less water for the more common liquid-only waste flushes. Solid-waste uses have a flush option with nearly twice the water content. Over time, a significant amount of water is saved with these toilets, which have been popular in Europe for a long time.
There are other high-efficiency models available as well. However, these new "low flow" models don't need to be feared as their predecessors were.
"We all have this, 'no low flow toilets,' that was a nightmare. So now, they're high efficiency, low flow toilets. And they really are," Metcalf says. "The engineering has come around to where they work way better than the original ones."
Alison Jordan with the City of Santa Barbara agrees. "I think if people are in the market for a new toilet, they should really look at the one point three," Jordan says. She is referring to the 1.3 gallon high-efficiency models now on the market. "Not only are you doing something for the environment and saving water, but you're also saving money."
The City of Santa Barbara and several other Santa Barbara County communities currently offer rebates for replacing old toilets with high-efficiency models.
