At the last Council meeting, Council brought back a rebate policy to encourage the replacement of toilets with water efficient versions.
The largest use of water in most homes comes from the flushing of toilets, as much as 24% according to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario’s Annual Energy Conservation Progress Report. Other studies indicate this percentage could be as high as 50%. Toilet flush rates in existing homes have a range of 6L per flush up to 12L per flush. Replacement of these old technologies to new, water efficient models of 3/6L dual flush or a 4.8L/flush can reduce the amount of water use by more than 50%.
These upgrades offer many benefits. Low flush toilets reduce the water cost for the users, lowers municipal water treatment costs at the treatment plant, boosts the plant’s capacity to process water for residential units and benefits the environment.
The Township offered a similar program in 2020 as a pilot which attracted only three replacement toilets, possibly due to timing of the program. The current cost of a new, low flow toilet averages $300 and runs as high as $1,000, so township staff recommended Council bring it back.
The new rebate program offers a $100.00 credit to users on Municipal or private services for the replacement of toilets with inefficient technologies to a new water efficient model.
To qualify for the rebate, the new toilet has to meet the criteria of 4.8 L/flush or a dual flush of 3 L/6 L. Many of these replacements would be from a previous 6, 8 or 12 L flush. The rebate program is available exclusively for residential units located within Township of Cavan Monaghan that are connected to both the municipal water and the municipal sanitary sewer system or operate on private services.
For details on this program and to apply, visit www.cavanmonaghan.net/lowflow or call 705-932-9319. KG