MAYNE ISLAND INTEGRATED
WATER SYSTEMS SOCIETY
Low Flush Toilet Figures
All of our islands are freshly off a prolonged
drought that pretty much lasted from early spring into
October. Islanders everywhere were concerned about their
wells and/or organized system's ability to produce, without
the necessity of water restrictions or irreparable damage
to well quality and/or quantity. While all sensible islanders
did their bit for conservation and preservation, the question
always arises, what more can I do, and will it really
make a difference to my aquifer and my community.
Following are some hard figures that you
can cite when touting the benefits of installing low flush
toilets and achieving major daily consumption reductions
with no real conscious effort or lifestyle changes on
your part.
Remember that toilets represent fully 30% of the total
consumption for any household.
Each of these examples is based on 5 flushes
per day, per person, per household, final figures extrapolated
to 2 persons per household.
13 liter toilet:
13L x 5 flushes x 365 days = 23,725 l per year
For a 2 person household, this puts toilet consumption
at 23,725 x 2=47,450 L.
6L toilet:
6L x 5 flushes x 365 days = 10,950 L per year
For a 2 person household, toilet consumption equals10,950
x 2 = 21,900 L
With a 6L,water saved over 13 L is 216%
3L dual flush toilet: factored on 3 flushes
at 3L & 2 flushes at 6 L
3L x 3 flushes x 365 days = 3285 L
6L x 2 flushes x 365 days = 4380 L
Total annual liters for dual flush = 7665L
For a 2 person household, total toilet consumption is
7665 x 2 = 15,330 L
With a dual 3L/6L, water saved over 13L
toilet is 309.52%
With a dual 3/6L,water saved over a 6L toilet is 108.33%
If we haven't glazed your eyes over with
the hard math, it is easy to see that with one minor modification
to your home, you can make major contributions towards
water preservation with very little effort. Some organized
water systems have set aside a set amount in their annual
budgets, in amounts varying from $1000 to $2000 per year,
designated as subsidies towards low flush toilet installation
for their stakeholders. This simple move can easily save
the cost of drilling a new well in the long term. If your
water district has not looked at this conservation method,
attend your AGM and ask that they consider designating
some of your tax dollars for this project, and then support
them in their efforts on your behalf.
Installation quotes we have received vary
from the $75.00 to $80.00 range. Old toilets, always as
clean as possible please, can be put through the crusher
at your local recycling yard. The only request our hard
working recycle folk have is that you break the toilet
into a few pieces before taking it to their yard.
On another conservation front, MIIWSS has
written the CRD Building office and CRD Environmental
Services in a quest to have the installation of rainwater
collection systems placed within the building code, much
in the same way that low flush toilets are now mandatory
in all new construction. If you feel this would be a good
move, please write to CRD SGI Building Inspection, 625
Fisgard St, Victoria, P.O. Box 1000, Victoria, B.C. V8W
2S6. Attention: Robert Guitterez.
It will remain, of course, for the current
homeowners to see the merits of adding rainwater collection
systems as an asset to their home and their lifestyle.
A good basic system will have a minimum of 2000 IMPG,
and odds are that you will add to that over the years,
so plan space at the time of #1 installation. This gives
you the freedom to enjoy a hot tub, water your garden,
have some on site fire protection, and in the case of
an isolating emergency such as an earthquake where gravity
fed systems are sure to be off, your storage and a small
bottle of bleach will give your family potable water until
service can be restored. There much to be said for adding
to the independence cherished by islanders, as well as
being able to take care of your family in emergencies.
Regarding our letter to the Ministry of
Environment regarding the growing practice of well hydrofracturing,
we have received a reply that our letter has been forwarded
to the Groundwater Advisory Board, a group of professionals
and government reps that are involved in the development
of the Groundwater Protection Regulation and amendments
to the Water Act.
3rd Annual Water Workshop: WATER
CULT: Climate,Usage,Legislation,Treatment, Saturday
April 28, 8a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the school gym. Registration
is $20 and will start March 1 through April 15.
Each Island paper will have a full page
ad in the March issue c/w registration form. The speaker's
list and commercial displays are fully booked. Guest speakers
will include Phil Hill ,Climatologist with Natural Resources
Canada, Sylvia Kenney Groundwater Protection Officer and
Pat Lapcevic, hydrologist, both with the Ministry of Environment,
Chris Flint from the insurance industry, Gary Gibson,
VIHA Chief Health Inspector speaking on the health of
your well, Alan Dakin, geologist addressing hydrofracturing,
Brian Dixon-Warren speaks to living 100% on rainwater
collection, Adam Schueur, from Watertiger on water treatment
& filtration, Dan Osbourne of Osbourne Electro-Mechanics
speaks to pump selection and maintenance, and Doug Sproule
of Sustainable Solutions International on low flush vs.
old toilet design.
Our displays will include Osbourne Electro Mechanics,
Premier Tanks, Corix (formerly Terasen) with meters and
BFPs, Caroma conservation products, Water tiger.
There will be the usual information tables, free MB Lab
tests kits, membership table, great lunch included, time
for Q&A,and draw prizes. Memberships in MIIWSS remain
at $5.00 per person, and we are now taking new and renewals
for 2007. MIIWSS is open to all islanders and water systems
who share the same concerns about conservation, education,
and our precious and finite water supply.
Well Mapping Project: We
have mapped and tested 13 private wells across the island
to date and will start computerizing the data this month.
Those owners, and some districts, still need to get their
test and drillers reports to us. If you have not done
so, please leave the copies at Sussex Realty mailbox in
a sealed envelope.
Remember to support your local water board
and consider standing for a Trustee position at your next
AGM. We will publish the AGM dates as the organized systems
provide the times.
Mary E. Cooper,
Vice Chair, MIIWSS
