Only 3 percent of all water on earth is fresh, and 2 percent of that is frozen in icecaps and glaciers. Selecting low-flow fixtures helps preserve this most precious resource. Low-flow fixtures supply less than the standard 2.2 (sink faucet) or 2.5 (showerhead) gallons per minute and are offered by many companies, including Kohler® (www.kohler.com), Oxygenics® (www.oxygenics.com), Toto® (www.totousa.com), and Delta® (www.deltafaucet.com).
In the past, some low-flow fixtures provided less-than-acceptable performance. Today, technological advances have been incorporated into the majority of these fixtures so they provide a “standard” shower or sink/lavatory use experience.
To make it easy to find and select water-efficient products with good performance, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has introduced its WaterSense® program, a label that’s backed by independent testing
and certification. WaterSense®-labeled products perform their intended functions as well as or better than their less-efficient counterparts. And generally speaking, they’re about 20 percent more water-efficient. For a list of qualified low-flow products, including low flow toilets, bathroom sink faucets, showerheads, and weather or sensor-based irrigation technologies, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
Here are a few examples to give you an idea of what’s on the market.
Kohler® offers an extensive line of low-flow fixtures. Its hands-on display of lavatory faucets at the recent International Builders Show here in Orlando gave attendees an opportunity to test low-flow lavatory faucets in person. And they really do feel just like their 2.2-gallon-per-minute counter-parts. I think the only 
difference we’ll notice as homeowners is the difference in the water bill. The photo to the right, courtesy of Kohler, shows the company’s Fairfax® model. Photograph copyright © Kohler Co.
One option for a shower low flow is offered by Oxygenics®. Their TriSpa™ low flow showerhead uses an air-induction design that infuses oxygen into the water to produce a more forceful spray. According to manufacturer, Energy Technology Laboratories, this model offers 
three pressurized spray patterns and saves 30 to 50 percent more water than standard showerheads. The hand-held version pictured here courtesy of Oxygenics®, comes in brushed nickel ($59.95) or chrome ($54.95).
Low flush toilets (1.6 gallons per flush) have been standard in the U.S. since the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Even so, it’s estimated that as much as 20 percent of our household water bill goes right down the toilet – pun intended.
Want to take a chunk out of that statistic and help the environment at the same time? A dual-flush toilet, which uses .8 or .9 gallons per flush for liquids and 1.6 for solids, can save a family thousands of gallons of water per year.
Kohler® has a number of single- and dual-flush toilets from which to choose. One of their newest single-flush 
models, the Kelston Comfort Height™ (pictured here through the courtesy of Kohler Co.) uses 1.28 gallons per minute. Kohler says this toilet, which retails for about $275, can save up to 3,200 gallons of water per fixture per year. Photograph copyright © Kohler Co.
Toto® is another company that has an excellent reputation for commodes, and I’ve gotten good feedback on their dual-flush model. This technology seems new to us, but dual-flush commodes have been used for many years in Europe, Asia, and Australia. The United States is definitely behind the times when it comes to water conservation.
A dual flush toilet usually features two buttons on the top of the tank (as shown on the Toto® tank pictured to the right). One is used for flushing liquids at .8 or .9 gallons per flush; the second is used for solids at the normal 1.6 gallons per flush.
Dual-flush technology has the potential to save a family of four up to an amazing 10,000 gallons of water per 
year. That’s a saving great enough to pay for the fixture in just a few years. And of course, you’ll continue to save water, for yourself and the planet, for years to come. I’ve seen prices on the Toto® dual-flush model from $300 to $435.
Today we have the ability to conserve water without sacrificing either aesthetics or comfort. As you make your plumbing fixture selections, take a serious look at low-flow. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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