Dave Cheshire, in his excellent article on the latest standards for sustainable buildings (SPG and the city, BSj 10/06), advocated dual-flush toilets as a way of reducing water consumption. This is one of my favourite topics, which I frequently air but never get any response. Perhaps this time I will be lucky!

Surely it’s time for the plumbing fixture business to introduce a simple hand-operated flush valve, of adequate flow capacity to flush the loo directly, obviating the need for a cistern at all. The handle would have a spring return enabling the user to run as much, or as little, water as necessary. The savings in water would be considerable.

In the meantime, a simple way of modifying conventional toilets to save water is to hang a suitable weight on the pivot arm (or whatever it’s called) so that it falls and cuts short the syphon effect as soon as the flushing handle is released.

I have modified several loos like this, using a galvanised or brass bolt, about 8mm diameter by 75mm long, secured with copper wire. It works perfectly. A more classy version in cast brass is available commercially here in New Zealand, but we engineers prefer to DIY, don’t we?

Stuart Bridgman, MCIBSE

Source

Building Sustainable Design