Save water with Save-a-Flush

Monday, 5 July 2010

Did you know that one flush of a standard domestic toilet can use as much as 13 litres of good clean water? This means that if each member of an average family of four flushes the toilet in their home four times daily, total consumption for the household is over 200 litres of water per day.

So almost 30% of of all water used in the home is flushed down the toilet, quite literally and quite unnecessarily. In taking the next step in My Green Journey I decided to investigate methods of reducing this shameful waste. Not being the biggest fan of the “if it’s yellow let it mellow” school of thought, I looked for a way to save water whilst enjoying the benefit of a toilet which remains clean at all times.

My immediate thought was to go with the traditional brick-in-the-toilet technique, but a little research revealed that this is not ideal as bricks disintegrate over time and can damage the toilet plumbing system. That’s when I stumbled upon the Save-a-Flush solution.

Save-a-Flush is a ‘hippo style water saving device’, which means that – like the brick – it is an object which is inserted into the toilet cistern, decreasing the amount of space inside so that less water is used per flush. Crystals within the Save-a-Flush device are formulated to absorb water gradually once it is placed inside the cistern. Once it has swelled to its full size the Save-a-Flush allows you to conserve a litre of water per flush, and this small saving adds up to a substantial long term contribution. The product is easy to install and super eco-friendly, as the bag is recyclable and the contents are biodegradable.

The best part about Save-a-Flush is its simplicity and its cost-effectiveness. It’s available at eco-stores such as Sustainable.co.za and The Green Shop for only R49. This water saving solution applies mainly for older toilet cisterns as most modern styles come with a dual flush mechanism, making them a lot more water efficient.

Another milestone in my journey to a greener lifestyle! Remember it’s the small changes we make in our daily lives that are going to make a real difference in saving our Earth. Have you tried the Save-a-Flush or something similar?