Low Consumption Toilets

Starting next month, water conservation takes a step forward in the Electoral Areas of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

That’s because the Westside and Central Okanagan East areas have been added to the growing list of communities around the Province that require installation of low water consumption toilets and urinals.

Communications Coordinator Bruce Smith says, “Home owners and businesses in the two areas don’t have to panic. It doesn’t mean they have to replace their existing toilets with more water friendly ones. However, after April 15th, any new installation, including voluntary replacement of an existing toilet, must be with a low water consumption model. These low flow toilets use less than half the amount of water compared with the older devices which use more than 13-litres of water per flush.”

Smith says, “The Regional District asked the Provincial Government to add the two Electoral Areas to its list of geographic areas requiring all new installations to be lower consumption models. In light of all the new housing construction taking place in the Electoral Areas, we believe that it will help encourage water conservation. And if someone is planning to replace an older toilet this measure will make it easier for them to help conserve water.”

Smith adds, “With the move throughout the Westside towards water meters, which will eventually see people paying for the amount of water they use, installing low flow toilets and other plumbing devices will definitely help keep their costs down, while preserving our precious water resource. It should also help reduce the potential need for costly improvements and water infrastructure upgrades.”

In January 2005, the Capital Region became the first area to require all new toilet and urinal installations to be low flow models.

In September that year, 17 additional areas were included in the Provincial Water Conservation Plumbing Regulation.

With the April 15th expansion, the regulation will be expanded by another 38 areas at the request of local governments.