Posted on 10/14/2010 6:56:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
NEW YORK -- Number one, or number two?
Share 42 Comments Under a law passed by the City Council today, new toilets will have to be high water efficient or "dual-flush," which allow users to choose between a high pressure flush for solid waste, and a low-pressure flush for liquid.
The law, which significantly changes the city plumbing code starting July 2012, applies the same strict water efficiency standards to plumbing fixtures like showerheads, urinals and sink faucets.
The package of water conservation bills also requires water fountains have separate spouts for drinking and for filling water containers; commercial buildings install alarms and sub-meters to detect water leaks; and limits the use of "once-through" cooling systems, such as those used to cool ice-making machines, walk-in coolers and older medical x-ray and laser equipment.
Advocates say the bills, part of a comprehensive package aimed at making buildings more energy efficient, could save the city 60 billion gallons of water per year once most of the older equipment is replaced. But some fear the measures - which, in some cases add 50 percent to the cost of fixtures - would just throw money down the drain.
New Yorkers use approximately 126 gallons of water per capita, per day - though residential use accounts for about 70 gallons per person, per day, according to figures from the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
A study by the non-profit Urban Green Council estimates that simply by changing some of these commonly used fixtures could knock that down by 5-7 gallons per person, per day. More efficient cooling systems could potentially save between 150,000 and 200,000 gallons per year, it found. And changing water fountains would also encourage the use of reusable water containers, thus saving the city millions in the cost of recycling plastic bottles, the study said.
Council Minority Leader James Oddo (R-Mid-Island), who voted against the water fountain and "toilet" bill, along with colleague Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore), said some of the measures reach too far.
"When does it stop? Does it stop when we micromanage every minute facet of our lives? I want people to drink water as much as the next guy, but to make it part of a law so that someone does not have to tilt a water container to fill it up?" Oddo said.
Ignizio also noted that New Yorkers have been paying higher water bills despite conserving water - consumption has been cut by more than 7 percent in 7 years, while water rates have nearly doubled in 10 years.
Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) defended the legislation, saying the common design of water fountains do not meet the current needs of water conservation and consumption.
"Believe it or not, it is actually not easy to take a water bottle and refill it. If you try to do it, the way the spigot works, you probably get water all over yourself, and two, you end up wasting a lot of water," Ms. Quinn said.
The water conservation laws will apply to all new construction and major renovations, or whenever a homeowner needs a Department of Buildings (DOB) permit to replace a bathroom or kitchen fixtures.
Dual flush toilets are commonly available in Europe, but do not currently comply with the city's plumbing code. According to some estimates, dual flush toilets cost about 5 percent more than others, on average. A comparison study by Urban Green Council found that dual-flush toilets result in 23-32 percent less water usage than conventional fixtures and the average water savings from replacing existing plumbing fixtures with dual-flush fixtures was 10,600 gallons per year per home.
Next thing we know they will be dictating microstamps on guns or mucking with light bulbs...
In the immortal words of mSkerry, the ketchup woman: tell Rosie O'redhead there to "shove it!"...
Someone reminded me that I missed one important spot:
“or whenever a homeowner needs a Department of Buildings (DOB) permit to replace a bathroom or kitchen fixtures.”
If this is so, and if you live in New York City and own a home, do take care of your toilet because you are going to have to spend for a dual flush one should you plan to replace your old one.
RE: or mucking with light bulbs...
You do know I’m sure that the good old incandescent light bulbs are going to be outlawed by 2014.
In fact, it is said that if you plan to sell your house that has the old incandescent bulbs in place, you have to spend money to replace all of them first before you can even get a permit to sell them.
That any NEW houses built will be required to be wired with NO Incandescent sockets goes without saying.
I agree with you. But, then, they decided that we all had to have low flush toilets, and I cheated. I installed a fill tube/flapper valve from a toilet with a taller, but narrower tank. Managed to get in at least another gallon and a half of water in my tanks.
This is what I find interesting;
“dual-flush toilets result in 23-32 percent less water usage than conventional fixtures and the average water savings from replacing existing plumbing fixtures with dual-flush fixtures was 10,600 gallons per year per home.”
That’s a lot of water saved over the course of several years! And I’m in the Third Tier for Cleveland’s water system. Water is expensive, and so is the sewerage charge. Less water used would save me money on those two bills. I run a small water company, but unfortunately don’t live in that system. We have deep wells, and I bring my cooking/drinking water home from work. I tap it before it’s treated, and it’s wonderful water! And I’m growing increasingly stingy!
< /Heavy sarcasm>
My people are some of the stupidest people on earth.
We now have bedbugs; let’s try for cholera!
What happens if you choose the wrong “flush”? Is another agency going to be created to be sure the people are using the right “flush”? This is so silly.
A people whose government dictates what kind of toilets they can have (and what kind of light bulbs they can use) are NO LONGER FREE.
“The law, which significantly changes the city plumbing code starting July 2012, applies the same strict water efficiency standards to plumbing fixtures like showerheads, urinals and sink faucets.”
If Seinfeld was still on the air, this would lead to an episode where the only way for Jerry to rinse the shampoo out of his hair is to stick his head in the “dual flush” toilet and press the #2 “high pressure” flusher!
some hippes go by the motto, “if its brown flush it down, if its yellow, let it mellow”
for me, I like a big “whoosh” every time.......
Nice!
The dual flush toilets make sense, as the 1.6 gal per flush toilets don’t work worth crap.
When Gubbermint (Al Gore) is interested in your toilet, Gubbermint (Al Gore) is interested in too much.
old neighborhood ping
I converted my toilet to dual flush with a $20 device I bought at Ace Hardware.
All of these "Save Water" measures that have been introduced in New York City over the years really have nothing to do with reducing water usage.
The real motivation behind these measures is the desire to reduce the amount of wastewater that is processed through the city's sewage treatment system. They're simply trying to extend the functional life of water treatment plants and other system elements as the city's population grows. I don't have enough information on hand to calculate this accurately, but I'd venture to guess that reducing per-capita water consumption by 5-7 gallons per day may extend the functional life of the city's current sewage treatment system by years.
These are the same clowns that favor recycling cans and containers which they mandate people wash out before they put in the recyclable bin. How much extra water does that use up? A lot. The whole recycling thing’s a scam.
In the old days in California there was a saying:
“If it’s yellow
Let it mellow
If it’s brown
Flush it down”
Seems like a cheaper alternative.
Then, on a washroom wall in Arizona:
“Flush twice
It’s a long way to L.A.”
And some hippies/ecowackos keep a can handy to catch the “yellow” and use it for “watering” their compost pile. (Adds nitrogen, they claim...)
RE: “If it’s yellow
Let it mellow
What the heck does “let it mellow” mean? How yellow should it be before we flush it?
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