Illinois Ag Connection - Study: Save 170B Gallons of Water with Efficient Toilets

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Study: Save 170B Gallons of Water with Efficient Toilets
Illinois Ag Connection - 04/27/2017

Water-efficient toilets could potentially save up to 170 billion potable gallons of water per year across five states facing water scarcity, according to new research released by the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) and Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI).

The "Saturation Study of Non-Efficient Water Closets in Key States" focused on Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia and Texas -- all states that have experienced serious water shortages. The savings projected by the study (170 billion gallons of potable water yearly or 465 million gallons saved per day) could be achieved if non-efficient toilets in residential properties are replaced with water-efficient ones. This five-state savings can be extrapolated to an estimate of up to 360 billion potable gallons of water per year saved nationally.

This research produces important direction for water managers nationwide, as 40 out of 50 states anticipate water shortages in the coming years, according to a Government Accountability Office survey of state water managers published in 2013, with most of these states already experiencing periodic shortages. The five states researched represent 28 percent of the national population and 47 percent of all housing units in 2015, so the report examines a large part of the residential water consumption in the United States. Toilet flushing is the largest single indoor use of water, representing 24 percent of total use in single-family homes. Replacing non-efficient toilets with efficient ones is an important strategy to stretch available water supplies.

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