Dual flush toilets are economical
AN average person goes to the toilets more than three times a day. An average toilet cistern accomodates 10 litres. This translates into about thirty litres daily for long and short calls alike.
By John Kasozi
AN average person goes to the toilets more than three times a day. An average toilet cistern accomodates 10 litres. This translates into about thirty litres daily for long and short calls alike.
A new toilet system, the dual flush toilet system that uses three and six litres of water to flush liquid waste (urine) and solid waste respectively, can reduce the cost of toilet usage.
“The dual flush toilet handles solid and liquid waste differently giving the user a choice of flushes. It helps conserve water,†says Joseph Ssentongo, the director of Sem Investments.
“This is a big saving over the water guzzling conventional toilet that uses about 10-litres of water every flush,†he adds. Ssentongo, who is behind the construction of Uganda Police toilet blocks, insists that using less water to flush liquid waste makes a lot of sense.
“With today’s emphasis on water conservation, economic and social pressures, the invention is the right choice.†Combined with the savings from using only half-flushes for liquid waste, the dual flush toilet design can save up to 68% more water than a conventional toilet. It is assumed that an average person flushes the toilet five to eight times a day.
“The dual flash units are about the same size as conventional designs but use about half the water per flush. The dual flush valve is designed to conserve water, slash energy use, reduce land fill and save money,†explains Ssentongo.
He says very few Ugandans have picked interest in the dual-flush system. “We try to explain to them about the system but they do not take it serious. They still look at water as cheap material,†he says.
Toilets make up the second largest source of water consumption in an average household, so the potential for water saving in this area is significant. Hindu Ware from India, Twyford from England, Modus from China and Orin from Portugal are some of the dual flush toilets available in Uganda.
The single touch dual flush buttons are on top of the cistern, which sits on the bowl. When the small or bigger button is pressed, a reservoir tank releases three or six litres of water into a toilet bowl.
“It will be an added advantage if a developer installs automatic urinals that discharge water every 30 minutes. He or she could save a lot of water and also improve on cleanliness of the bowl,†explains Ssentongo.
But there are some disadvantages to consider, too. Dual flush units are more expensive than the conventional designs. Another drawback is that plumbing required to facilitate a dual flush system is complicated.
The Australians are credited with leading the way in the development of dual flush technology. In 1980, Bruce Thompson of Caroma Industries, with two other people refined toilet technology by developing a number of useful patents for water closets, drains and pipe joints creating the first two-button flushing system, a convenient method of manually selecting the water volume of each flush.
According to Battelle Memorial Institute 2003 scientific and technological report, a consulting firm based in Ohio estimates that the demand for water-saving systems is growing by 10% each year worldwide.
Today, dual flush toilets are used widely in Australia, Europe and Asia. They are gradually getting acceptance in other parts of the world.
AN average person goes to the toilets more than three times a day. An average toilet cistern accomodates 10 litres. This translates into about thirty litres daily for long and short calls alike.
A new toilet system, the dual flush toilet system that uses three and six litres of water to flush liquid waste (urine) and solid waste respectively, can reduce the cost of toilet usage.
“The dual flush toilet handles solid and liquid waste differently giving the user a choice of flushes. It helps conserve water,†says Joseph Ssentongo, the director of Sem Investments.
“This is a big saving over the water guzzling conventional toilet that uses about 10-litres of water every flush,†he adds. Ssentongo, who is behind the construction of Uganda Police toilet blocks, insists that using less water to flush liquid waste makes a lot of sense.
“With today’s emphasis on water conservation, economic and social pressures, the invention is the right choice.†Combined with the savings from using only half-flushes for liquid waste, the dual flush toilet design can save up to 68% more water than a conventional toilet. It is assumed that an average person flushes the toilet five to eight times a day.
“The dual flash units are about the same size as conventional designs but use about half the water per flush. The dual flush valve is designed to conserve water, slash energy use, reduce land fill and save money,†explains Ssentongo.
He says very few Ugandans have picked interest in the dual-flush system. “We try to explain to them about the system but they do not take it serious. They still look at water as cheap material,†he says.
Toilets make up the second largest source of water consumption in an average household, so the potential for water saving in this area is significant. Hindu Ware from India, Twyford from England, Modus from China and Orin from Portugal are some of the dual flush toilets available in Uganda.
The single touch dual flush buttons are on top of the cistern, which sits on the bowl. When the small or bigger button is pressed, a reservoir tank releases three or six litres of water into a toilet bowl.
“It will be an added advantage if a developer installs automatic urinals that discharge water every 30 minutes. He or she could save a lot of water and also improve on cleanliness of the bowl,†explains Ssentongo.
But there are some disadvantages to consider, too. Dual flush units are more expensive than the conventional designs. Another drawback is that plumbing required to facilitate a dual flush system is complicated.
The Australians are credited with leading the way in the development of dual flush technology. In 1980, Bruce Thompson of Caroma Industries, with two other people refined toilet technology by developing a number of useful patents for water closets, drains and pipe joints creating the first two-button flushing system, a convenient method of manually selecting the water volume of each flush.
According to Battelle Memorial Institute 2003 scientific and technological report, a consulting firm based in Ohio estimates that the demand for water-saving systems is growing by 10% each year worldwide.
Today, dual flush toilets are used widely in Australia, Europe and Asia. They are gradually getting acceptance in other parts of the world.