A recent study by the European Commission into the toilet flushing habits of 26 countries has made quite a splash, especially in the UK as Britons have been told to stop flushing so frequently.
Britain not only uses the most water in the European Union, swilling away 1,125 million cubic metres of water in 2010, but it has a higher-than-average toilet water usage in the EU – 30% of domestic water compared with up to 25%, and 14% in Finland.
In the study which cost an eye-watering £72,000, it’s suggested that 5-litre flushes should become the European standard.
The EU wants us all to flush less and to use just 5 litres per flush – the standard British loo currently usually uses 6 litres. Ideally, all loos will have a maximum 5-litre cistern capacity, with dual-flush loos having a 3-litre limit for the half-flush setting, and urinals a 1-litre setting.
Manufacturers will be able to display so-called eco-labels on packaging if they achieve these targets, and the average household could save around 6,600 litres of water by staying within the suggested limits.
The report stated: “Two key elements appear to affect the water consumption of flushing toilets and urinals: their design and the user behaviour.
“User behaviour is a crucial aspect and must be without any doubts emphasised. The user behaviour analysis carried out showed how the average water consumption differs among the EU member states. Also the consumption between citizens of one country may vary very significantly.”
So what’s to be done?
While saving water is a serious matter, do you really appreciate being told what to do when you go to the bathroom? Besides, if you have an older toilet it’ll likely have a larger than 6-litre capacity so there may be only two options available – replace the loo or wince every time the loo is flushed!
It’s a divisive topic, with Conservative MP Peter Bone describing the study as the “most absurd waste of money” while Green Party leader Natalie Bennett defends it, stating that the eco-label was voluntary and that “the EU is not going to go marching into your bathroom”.
There is of course one way to view all this – as a very good excuse to invest in new sanitaryware for your bathroom… With plenty of designs available, you could find a loo to match your bath and shower as well as overall décor – why not take a look at these sanitaryware collections to help you get started.