Article Contributed on: 7/28/2008 11:43:57 AM
The City of Northglenn is doing its best to make sure its water supply isn't flushed down the toilet - literally.
The city gave away 500 low-water use toilets on July 26 at the city's Maintenance and Operation Building. Recipients were chosen by a lottery.
This is the first time a Colorado city has implemented such a program to reduce water waste.
High efficiency dual-flush Caroma brand toilets were purchased from Sustainable Solutions International, a Canadian company that sells its toilet throughout the world. The toilet has two flushing buttons. One is for solid waste and uses 1.6 gallons per flush. The second is for liquid waste and uses .8 gallons a flush.
Most new toilets use a standard 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to five gallons per flush in the 1960s and 1970s and up to seven gallons per flush for toilets made before 1950.
The city expects 20-25 acre feet of water savings annually, which is equal to about 32-40 households of four people. That's equivalent to about $220,000 in water rights for the city.
A $60,000 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board paid for much for the program. Each of the toilets have a retail value of $400, but the city got the toilets for about $138 each.
For those who didn't win the lottery, the city is continuing its rebate program towards the purchase of any new toilet. The city will reimburse $75 towards the purchase of a new toilet, either as a credit on the water bill or as a check. The limit is two per residence. Interested citizens may pick up an application at Northglenn City Hall, 11710 Community Center Drive, or at
www.northglenn.org/p205.html.