Implementing Residential Toilet Retrofit Programs

The Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) Water Supply Sustainability Plan (WSSP) identifies residential retrofits as a priority conservation strategy. Because toilets are among the largest sources of indoor water use, replacing older models with more efficient versions can result in substantial savings. Several communities in Northeastern Illinois have launched toilet retrofit programs, and their experiences offer lessons for others considering similar efforts.

How toilet retrofits drive water savings
Federal plumbing standards adopted in 1992 reduced toilet water use to 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf), replacing older models that commonly used 3.5 to 5.0 gpf. Most retrofit programs now require U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense-labeled models using 1.28 gpf or less, ensuring both efficiency and performance.
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Because toilet upgrades permanently replace inefficient fixtures, the resulting savings persist over time. The NWPA WSSP estimates that if 50% of eligible residential households retrofitted their toilets, the NWPA region could save 2.8 million gallons of water per day (MGD), increasing to 5.5 MGD if all eligible residents participated. The question is, how can the NWPA achieve these estimated water savings?

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