By Rachel Gossen

A recent study conducted by GMP Research Inc., and commissioned by Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI), has found that only 6.7 percent of toilets nationwide are certified WaterSense toilets. WaterSense is a label, created in 2006 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to signify when a plumbing product is water efficient, and uses 20 percent less water than the federal standard.

Current federal requirements come from the 1992 Energy Policy Act, stating that new toilets can only use up to 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Older model toilets generally use between 3 and 5 gallons per flush. For a family of four, replacing a 1.6 gallon toilet with a WaterSense 1.2 gallon toilet will save 2,000 gallons a year, while also lowering the cost of water bills. By replacing older toilets, faucets and showers across America, the United States would save 3 billion gallons of water a day, according to PMI.

Surprisingly, the study found that the states with the most WaterSense products installed are New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PMI says that the drought-stricken Southern and West Coast states tend to have higher WaterSense showerhead and faucet installations, while Midwest and New England states have more toilet installations.

With water efficiency becoming a popular topic in states suffering from the drought, such as California and Arizona, PMI hopes the U.S. government will create stronger rebates and incentives for consumers to install WaterSense plumbing products. Barbara Higgins, PMI CEO and executive director, said in a press release that the future is now and it is time to switch to water efficient products. “Just as you wouldn’t use a 20-year-old cellphone, it doesn’t make sense to use 20-year-old plumbing technology. Using WaterSense products is common sense. Start saving more water today.”

For more information on water efficient plumbing, visit safeplumbing.org.