REDUCE WATER USE IN TOILETS

There are many ways to reduce the amount of water used by your toilet: Use the half-flush button when appropriate.

Insert a water displacement device into your tank if you have a single flush toilet. You can purchase these or place a plastic bottle filled with water in the cistern. Make sure it doesn’t obstruct the mechanism. Don’t use bricks as they can crumble and stop the system working properly.

Have your plumber adjust the flush volume of your cistern.

What leaking toilets cost	Litres per hour	Litres per year	Cost per year
Slow leak, barely visible	0.5	4,400	$3
Leak visible in bowl, no noise	1.5	13,100	$8
Visible leak, just audible	6	52,600	$32
Visible leak, constant hissing  sound	11	96,400	$58

Fix leaking toilets immediately. A slow, barely visible leak can waste more than 4,000 litres per year. Visible, constant leaks can waste over 95,000 litres.

Check for leaks by placing a couple of drops of food colouring or dye into the cistern. If colour appears in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, then a leak exists and the system should be repaired.

Replace the toilet with a 6 litre/3 litre dual flush toilet.

Replace the cistern on an old toilet with a 9 litre/4.5 litre cistern if replacing the entire unit is not an option.