New NYC Toilets must be Dual Flush

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).