What is a high-efficiency toilet?

A high-efficiency toilet is a new toilet that uses less water than what used to be considered a water-saving toilet. These toilets use less water than most of the toilets available today.

What is WaterSense?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense program is an independent water efficiency and performance testing program that promotes water-efficient prodcuts, programs, and practices. The WaterSense label indicates that certified products and programs meet water efficiency and performance criteria and have been tested by a third-party laboratory.

Which models qualify for SoCal Water$mart rebates?

WaterSense-qualified high-efficiency toilets with a capacity of 1.28 gallons per flush or less qualify for SoCal Water$mart rebates. Click here for a list of qualifying models.

Where can I buy a qualified high-efficiency toilet?

You can find qualifying high-efficiency toilets at most major retailer and home plumbing/bath shoroom locations throughout Southern California. Click here for a list of retailers.

Don't high-efficiency toilets end up using more water, since you may have to flush two times?

While this may have been the case for first generation toilets right after plumbing standards changed in 1992, significant changes in technology and product design since then have dramatically improved flushing performance. WaterSense also requires third-party testing to ensure optimal performance for qualified toilets.

What features should I evaluate when selecting a high-efficiency toilet?

 Look at more than just the number of gallons of water per flush to best match the right model with your needs. Also consider:

• Waste removal performance (a.k.a.- "flush volume") -- The more grams of waste removed as indicated by the MaP score, the stronger the flush (see below to learn more about MaP);
• Bowl type -- Round vs. elongated;
• Seat height -- Many models now comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act "comfort height" of 17 - 19 inches;
• Type of toilet fixture -- Pressure, power-assisted or gravity-fed flush. This may affect the level of noise it makes when flushed.

From a practical perspective, you may also want to consider tank size to determine how the model will fit in your bathroom, and also whether the new toilet wil require any touch-up paint (if you're buying a smaller tank size).

Should I select the toilet with the highest rated flush volume?

In order to properly perform, a toilet should be able to reliably flush at least 250 grams of solid waste and 24 sheets of toilet paper. The most widely accepted assessment for flush volume is the Maximum Performance (MaP) test that measures volumes up to 1,000 grams. Generally speaking, though, any high-efficiency toilet with a flush volume above 500 grams will perform very well.

My toilet says it uses 1.28 gallons per flush, but it's not on the WaterSense list. Does it qualify for a rebate?

Only models that are actively certified by WaterSense qualify for SoCal Water$mart rebates. If your toilet model does not appear on the SoCal Water$mart list of qualified HETs, it either has not completed testing to-date or has not passed all efficiency and performance requirements.

Back to High-Efficiency Toilets.