New building controls to ban traditional toilets

THE STANDARD toilet is about to be flushed out as part of a new Government water conservation measure.

Environment Minister John Gormley has signed off on new building regulations that will lead to a ban on traditional toilets.

The Government says that the move will lead to hundreds of millions of gallons drinking water being saved each year.

Under the new regulations, all toilets fitted into homes will be required to have a dual-flush system.

In addition, dual-flush toilets will be the only models available at DIY stores, plumbing supplies stores and hardware shops. The regulations will be implemented from November.

Yesterday, Mr Gormley said that making dual flush toilets mandatory would lead to greater efficiencies in the use of water, and was a sensible and practical step that formed part of the National Water Conservation Programme.

Official estimates suggest that as much of a third of the country's drinking water is used to flush toilets, which the Government considers poor use of a valuable resource.

Standard toilets in Irish homes and workplaces flush between six and nine litres.

Dual flush toilets release four litres in water-saving mode, and six litres for a full flush.

"It demonstrates how simple but practical ways can be found to conserve water," said Mr Gormley, adding that further water conservation measures would be introduced.

These are unlikely to include any attempt to introduce water charges or metering, issues that have proved politically divisive in the past.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times