Batavia encouraging water-conserving toilets

Batavia is dangling a little cash in front of residents to encourage them to use less water.

The city is offering $50 rebates to the first 40 who replace old toilets with water-conserving toilets.

The idea came from the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group. It is one of the group's 13 water-saving goals.

"It seemed like a relatively easy concept to start with," said water superintendent John Dillon.

Batavia's public works committee decided this week that the program should also help the community economically, by requiring the toilets to either be purchased in Batavia or installed by a Batavia-based plumber.

Applications for the rebate should be available on the city Web site (cityofbatavia.net) by the end of the week, Dillon said. People will have to supply a copy of their receipt or invoice, and certify that they disposed of the old toilet in such a way that it cannot be used as a toilet again.

The toilets must meet the standards of the WaterSense program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Qualified toilets cost as little as $118, according to one home improvement store's Web site.

Single- and dual-flush toilets are eligible. Single-flush units must use no more than 1.28 gallons per flush, and dual-flush units must use no more than 1.6 gpf for the full flush and 1.1 gpf for the lesser.

Batavia estimates that a four-person household that changes at least one toilet to a low-flow could use 17,000 fewer gallons of water per year, for a savings of $120 on the water and sewer bill.

Toilets made before 1992 use 3.5 to 5 gallons or more per flush. Federal efficiency standards were introduced in 1992, and revised in 2007.