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The satisfying woosh of water tumbling out of an old style toilet tank convinced many consumers that they could never make do when 1.3 gallons per flush toilets were introduced. There was even a quick run-up on sales at eBay and other online traders as consumers sought to have the higher volume toilets installed in their homes.

Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is going a step further, or a few drops backward. The agency’s new WaterSense program offers a label to those toilets that perform their assigned tasks at a volume less than 1.3 gallons per flush.

The labeling program and lower volume toilets are voluntary at this writing. The new toilets are the product of extensive research in fluid dynamics conducted over the last six years. While the exterior differs little from traditional toilets, interior redesign and new mechanical approaches significantly improve flow and reduce water usage.

During the development of its WaterSense program, EPA analysis determined that toilets represented a significant target for its water-efficiency activities. Toilet usage accounts for nearly one-third of home water consumption.

It is estimated that high-efficiency toilets can reduce water bills by about 10 percent. Replacing older, inefficient toilets, which are responsible for much of the water wasted in American homes, could save more than 900 billion gallons of water a year – enough to supply almost 10 million households.

WaterSense-labeled toilets are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency. Only high-efficiency toilets that complete the third-party certification process can earn the WaterSense label.

WaterSense is a voluntary public-private partnership that recognizes high-performance products and processes. The WaterSense program also seeks to promote consumer use of water-efficient products, certification for water industry professionals, and innovation in water-efficient product manufacturing.

Companies that manufacture, sell or distribute household plumbing fixtures are encouraged to join the WaterSense program, which is also open to water utilities, trade associations, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations.

Posted under Health, Products

The Environmental Protection Agency released a new study this week showing that water supplies on 17.2% of 169 randomly selected aircraft were contaminated with “total coliform bacteria”.

Media outlets were quick to react. The Miami Herald ran an article January 20 highlighting the finding that planes in Miami tested worse than any other U.S. airport. The Denver Post also jumped on the bandwagon, leading their article with “Asking for bottled water or a canned drink aboard an airliner might be best for now.” More than 400 media outlets had picked up the story within 24 hours of the EPA’s announcement.

The Air Transport Association, an industry trade group, has released its own statement declaring aircraft water safe. A spokesperson for the association said, “Once again, the EPA chose to include samples from aircraft lavatories, which are essentially public restrooms, where there’s a high potential for cross-contamination of samples. We’re also concerned that many of the samples came from international carriers that the agency does not regulate.”

The EPA seemed to agree with the association, stating in its own FAQ section that “The presence of total coliform, in and of itself, is not indicative of a health risk. Coliform bacteria will not likely cause illness. However, the presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water indicates that other disease-causing organisms (pathogens) may be present in the water system.”

For now, treating water on an aircraft as one would any shared and public water supply seems the best course of action. Since most airlines serve bottled water, worried consumers may want to skip asking for ice. The EPA also recommends this course of action, stating, “Passengers with suppressed immune systems or others concerned should request bottled or canned beverages while on the aircraft and refrain from drinking tea or coffee that does not use bottled water.”

Posted under Health, Safety, Travel