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It's due to the Energy Policy Act of 1992: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_1992#Impact https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_199

It's due to the Energy Policy Act of 1992: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_1992#Impact https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_1992#Impa... It set a max volume for toilet flushes of 1.6 gallons and since it's a federal law, it covers everyone.

mjevans 3y ago
Invariably, I end up using _at least_ 3.2 gallons as it takes multiple flushes to finish the job.
- brewdad 3y ago
  If that is your normal everyday experience you should consider changing your diet and or your toilet. Neither my wife nor I clog a toilet more than about once a year. The double flush might happen once every other month.
  - gnicholas 3y ago
    I don't think GP is saying he clogs the toilet, but rather that a single flush does not clear it. We have very low-flow toilets, and sometimes my little kids have to double-flush. It's not about diet or anything — the toilets are just very low-flow (assuming you only have to flush once).
  - djhn 3y ago
    I’d argue that clogging a toilet with any kind of regularity is still a failure of either engineering or diet.
gottorf 3y ago
Definitely an odd thing to regulate federally. No reason at all why toilets in New Mexico (average annual rainfall 13") and Mississippi (56") should be held to the same legal limit of water usage.
- throwup238 3y ago
  The low flow restriction was criticized at the time for exactly that but I believe the reason it ended up in the bill is twofold: manufacturers wanted a unified standard at the national level that didn't change at the whims of 50 different state legislatures and the bill was geared towards energy conservation, not water usage. Since toilets account for 30-40% of indoor water usage and pumping water around is quite energy intensive, it does have an effect even if you're in a wet region.
  - gnicholas 3y ago
    > pumping water around is quite energy intensive How energy-intensive are we talking? Compared to what?

mjevans 3y ago

Invariably, I end up using _at least_ 3.2 gallons as it takes multiple flushes to finish the job.

brewdad 3y ago
If that is your normal everyday experience you should consider changing your diet and or your toilet. Neither my wife nor I clog a toilet more than about once a year. The double flush might happen once every other month.
- gnicholas 3y ago
  I don't think GP is saying he clogs the toilet, but rather that a single flush does not clear it. We have very low-flow toilets, and sometimes my little kids have to double-flush. It's not about diet or anything — the toilets are just very low-flow (assuming you only have to flush once).
- djhn 3y ago
  I’d argue that clogging a toilet with any kind of regularity is still a failure of either engineering or diet.

gottorf 3y ago

Definitely an odd thing to regulate federally. No reason at all why toilets in New Mexico (average annual rainfall 13") and Mississippi (56") should be held to the same legal limit of water usage.

throwup238 3y ago
The low flow restriction was criticized at the time for exactly that but I believe the reason it ended up in the bill is twofold: manufacturers wanted a unified standard at the national level that didn't change at the whims of 50 different state legislatures and the bill was geared towards energy conservation, not water usage. Since toilets account for 30-40% of indoor water usage and pumping water around is quite energy intensive, it does have an effect even if you're in a wet region.
- gnicholas 3y ago
  > pumping water around is quite energy intensive How energy-intensive are we talking? Compared to what?